Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with.

Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 7.5)

The thought of exploring new things, such as travel spots and cuisines has become quite popular, while some demographics still believe in doing familiar things. In my opinion, the comfort that comes with known actions is undeniable, however, one should not miss the adventure offered by unknown things.

Many wonderful facets are associated with the phenomenon of continuing familiar trends. The primary catalyst is the comfort which this trend provides in modern fast-paced lifestyle. To expound, since our bodies get programmed to the familiar places and foods, the activity itself feels familiar to the body and there is no stress produced in response to a familiar action. Furthermore, it gives stability in life as one can predict the possible outcome on the basis of familiarity of past experiences. This is especially true for the members of the graying society who have their set ways of living the life by following the same routine for many years.

On the contrary, some people argue that diving into the ocean of unknown gives them a plethora of opportunities to broaden their horizons. This is because unknown practices expose them to new food, places, customs and rituals, it significantly enriches their life experiences. To exemplify, the explorers who travel to exotic places get valuable insight about new cultures which can never be learnt by visiting familiar local hotspots.

In conclusion, although the relaxation that comes by continuing familiar practices is unmatchable, the experiences gained by encountering the unfamiliar are far more enriching. Therefore in my opinion, a balance of both in life is a must to live it to the fullest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes toward new experiences and familiar routines, while clearly stating an opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the distinction between the comfort of stability and the enrichment gained from exploration. The position is consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, the development of the 'familiarity' argument could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by providing a concrete example of a specific routine, rather than relying on general statements about 'graying society'. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear, logical progression of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The primary catalyst', 'To expound', 'Furthermore', and 'On the contrary' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing viewpoints. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear. There is a slight mechanical feel to some of the transitions, but they are used accurately and contribute to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'graying society', 'plethora of opportunities', and 'broaden their horizons' demonstrate a good range. There are some minor collocations issues, such as 'doing familiar things' (which could be 'sticking to familiar routines') and 'programmed to the familiar places' (which is slightly unnatural). However, the range is sufficient to convey complex ideas with precision, and the errors do not impede communication. The student shows an awareness of style by using academic-leaning vocabulary throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is effective use of subordinate clauses, such as 'since our bodies get programmed...' and 'although the relaxation that comes... is unmatchable'. While there are occasional minor errors, such as 'living the life by following' (which is slightly redundant) and a missing comma after 'rituals' in the third paragraph, the majority of sentences are error-free. The control of punctuation and grammar is strong, and the errors present are non-systematic and do not cause any difficulty for the reader.

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