Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The thought of exploring new things, such as travel spots and cuisines has become quite popular, while some demographics still believe in sticking to familiar routines. 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 a fast-paced lifestyle. To expound, since our bodies get programmed to 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; therefore 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 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes toward new experiences versus familiar routines and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly in the body paragraphs where the benefits of stability and the enrichment of exploration are contrasted. The position is consistent throughout the essay, culminating in a balanced conclusion. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, concrete examples rather than general statements like 'explorers who travel to exotic places,' which would add more depth to the argument.

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 'Furthermore,' 'On the contrary,' and 'To exemplify' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is clear. The essay maintains a consistent focus, and the use of referencing is generally accurate, contributing to a coherent overall structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally appropriate for the task. The student uses some less common items such as 'catalyst,' 'plethora,' and 'graying society' with reasonable success. However, there are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'continuing familiar trends' (which sounds slightly unnatural in this context) and 'the activity itself feels familiar to the body.' While the range is adequate to convey meaning with precision, it lacks the consistent sophistication and natural collocation required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a commendable use of subordinate clauses, such as 'since our bodies get programmed to familiar places...' and 'although the relaxation that comes by continuing familiar practices is unmatchable.' While there are occasional minor errors, such as 'living the life by following' (which is slightly redundant) and 'can never be learnt' (passive voice usage), these do not impede communication. The control over punctuation and sentence construction is generally strong, supporting a clear flow of ideas.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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