Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-09

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 6.5)

In today's fast paced world, a considerable number of people often prefer to try new things like visiting different places or tasting various cuisines. Whereas, others choose to continue doing more familiar stuff. In my opinion, gaining novel experiences is always better as compared to continuing with familiar activities.

On of the many reasons why people keep on doing the more familiar things could be the fear of disappointment, which often comes with trying an unexpected activity. Another reason might be that these people do not want to step out of their comfort zone as familiarity brings peace. Moreover, these people are often narrow minded who do not cultivate the habit of choosing the unknown experieces.

On the other hand, people who want the thrill and excitement of new experiences are more likely to travel to new places and try out a variety of cuisines. In addition to this, learning about different cultures is their priority, giving them a chance to fully appreciate the cultural differences around the world.

From my perspective, taking the time to try new things gives you an edge that makes your life exciting, alleviating health problems which arise due to stressful work schedules. Apart from this, your social life also becomes better as you step out of your comfort zone and meet new people while trying out various activities. Consequently, this habit would lead to higher personal satisfaction as individuals learn to appreciate the art of living.

To conclude, although staying in your comfort zone might give you a sense of familiarity, it is far more advisable to keep on trying new activities in order to make your life more adventurous.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: it discusses both attitudes toward trying new things versus maintaining familiarity and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though some points, such as the claim that people who prefer familiarity are 'narrow minded,' are somewhat over-generalized and could be better supported with more nuanced reasoning. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that arguments are developed with more depth rather than relying on broad assertions about the personality traits of those who prefer routine.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand,' 'In addition to this,' and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to create a more cohesive flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. There is an attempt to use a range of vocabulary, such as 'alleviating,' 'cultivate,' and 'adventurous.' However, there are some instances of slightly informal or imprecise word choices, such as 'familiar stuff' and 'give you an edge.' To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology to express complex ideas. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning, but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor errors, such as the typo 'On of the many' (should be 'One of') and the comma splice in the first paragraph ('Whereas, others...'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. The control of grammar is generally good, and the sentence variety is sufficient for this level. To achieve a higher score, ensure more consistent accuracy in complex structures and avoid minor mechanical errors.

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

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