Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07
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)
Task 2
People differ in their attitudes towards trying new experiences such as travelling to unfamiliar places or tasting different kinds of food. While some other people prefer the comfort of familiar routines, I believe that trying new things generally leads to personal growth and a more enjoyable life. In the following paragraphs i will both these attitudes and give my own opinion.
Firstly, people prefer familiar things because there/their are various reasons behind it such as feel safe, less stress, save money, avoid risk and comfortable routines. For instance, i love to take dinner at the same restaurant because they know the food is good and the enviroment is also cozy.
Secondly, group of people are in the favour of trying new things. There are numerous reasons behind it such as learn new cultures, gain experience, become confident, reduce fear and create memories. For example, travelling abroad teaches people about different customs and lifestyles.
To conclude, although familiar routines provide comfort and security, I believe that trying new experiences offers greater opportunities for learning and personal development.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 178 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you have addressed both sides of the argument and provided a clear personal position, the points are underdeveloped. For instance, the reasons for preferring familiar routines are listed as a series of short phrases rather than fully explained arguments. To achieve a higher band, you must expand on your points with specific examples and detailed explanations to ensure the task is fully addressed. The current brevity prevents a thorough discussion of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'To conclude' to signal the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical due to the limited length. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using more varied linking words and better referencing to connect sentences. The current structure is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You use common phrases like 'trying new things' and 'familiar routines' throughout. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. While the meaning is clear, the range is limited, and there are minor errors such as 'enviroment' (spelling). To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'novelty', 'comfort zone', or 'cultural immersion', to demonstrate a wider range of expression.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'i will both these attitudes' (missing a verb like 'discuss') and 'group of people are in the favour of' (article usage). Additionally, there is a confusion between 'there' and 'their'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall fluency. You should focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that all sentences are complete and grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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