Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
It is believed that some individuals love to try new things like going to visit different places and trying many varieties of food, while other people argue that they just like to do things with which they are more comfortable with. Although there are many positive aspects about people not wanting to do something unfamiliar, I strongly agree with the fact that people should explore the world more.
Travelling and exploring new places allow an individual to become more independent. Some people are in favor of this, and they love to try new things this is because they are very keen to travel. For instance, parents nowadays encourage their children to try new things and adapt themselves to new surroundings as this will help them not to get very attached to their home and the food that they consume every day. As a result, they develop a habit to try unfamiliar things and visit different places.
On the other hand, some individuals love to stay comfortable. They do not want to experience changes in their day-to-day life because they have developed a habit to not try different things and travel. They just want a simple life in their home with their family. For example, many students do not go to a different city for further studies as they believe that they would not be able to cope up with the environment and stay there with ease. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not like to stay in unfamiliar places because they cannot adjust with changing environment.
In conclusion, even though people have their own preferences about familiarity and exploring, I agree with the fact that a person needs a changing environment to become independent and become more confident.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding why people prefer familiarity is supported by a single example of students avoiding new cities, which could have been expanded to include psychological or cultural factors. Similarly, the benefits of exploring are mentioned but remain somewhat general. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more depth and nuance in your supporting arguments rather than relying on brief explanations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'As a result' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing (e.g., 'try new things' is used frequently). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is more precise would enhance the flow and coherence of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'adapt themselves' and 'unfamiliar places'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic vocabulary such as 'good', 'things', and 'like'. There are also minor collocation issues, such as 'cope up with', which should simply be 'cope with'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical errors. For example, 'comfortable with' is used redundantly in the first paragraph ('...with which they are more comfortable with'), and there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. The sentence structure is generally functional, but there is a lack of more advanced grammatical forms (such as conditionals or passive voice) that would demonstrate greater flexibility. Focusing on eliminating these small errors will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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