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 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 a modern 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; 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 towards trying new things versus maintaining familiar routines. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout, concluding with a balanced perspective. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the discussion on the 'graying society' and the benefits of cultural exploration. To reach a higher band, ensure that the development of ideas is slightly more nuanced; for example, you could provide a more specific personal example rather than a general reference to 'explorers' to add depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'To exemplify' effectively to link your points. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth. To improve, ensure that the referencing remains precise; occasionally, the connection between sentences could be tightened to avoid slight repetition in phrasing, but overall, the flow of information is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'graying society', 'plethora of opportunities', and 'broaden their horizons' show an awareness of style and collocation. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'doing familiar things' or 'unknown things', which could be more sophisticated. While the vocabulary is adequate and allows for clear communication, incorporating more varied and precise academic collocations would help elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the relaxation that comes by continuing' (which should be 'comes from') and 'on the basis of familiarity of past experiences' (which is slightly wordy). However, these errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures and ensure that prepositions and article usage are consistently accurate.

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

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