Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-10

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)

People have different attitude towards experiencing different things such as visiting new places and trying different type of food, while others prefer to keep doing familiar things. This essay will discuss both attitudes. In my opinion, although stick to familiar activities provide comfort and convenient, trying new things offer much more valuable experiences and broaden one's perspectives.

On the one hand, people who prefer to keep doing same things they are aware with, gives priority to comfort and security in their life. when individuals perform the things, they are already done, they become comfortable and do not have to face unexpected challenges. As a result, they feel less stressed and already expected the outcome, which gives them a sense of security. For instance, many people are afraid of starting their own business, despite having a significant financial resources and strong qualifications, due to fear of facing considerable loss associated with failure of own business. Therefore, many people prefer comfort and security over experience completely new things.

On the other hand, trying new things in life provide valuable experience and opportunities in life. visiting unfamiliar destinations allows individuals to explore different cultures, meet new people and gain a broader understanding. Likewise, trying new cuisines can introduce people to new flavors and eating habits. Moreover, stepping out one's comfort zone make people much more confident and experienced, as they encounter several unexpected situations that sometimes gives them useful lessons and knowledge. For instance, a person who travel alone to a foreign country may initially feel nervous, but successfully managing unfamiliar situations can make them more independent and confident.

In conclusion, while some people prefer the security and predictability of familiar experiences, other enjoy the excitement and personal growth that new things can offer. I believe that people should occasionally stepping out of their comfort zone to get exposure of valuable things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on the fear of business failure versus the benefits of personal growth through travel. However, the development is occasionally slightly repetitive, and the arguments could be strengthened with more nuanced analysis. For instance, the link between 'familiarity' and 'security' is clear, but could be explored with more depth to reach the higher band descriptors. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay, and the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Likewise', and 'As a result' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is mostly clear, though there are minor instances where the connection between sentences could be more fluid. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with some flexibility. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'predictability', 'exposure', and 'comfort zone' effectively. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'stick to familiar activities provide' (should be 'sticking to... provides') and 'expected the outcome' (should be 'anticipate the outcome'). While the range is adequate for the task, the use of less common lexical items is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors that slightly impact the precision of the writing. Nevertheless, the meaning is always clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('trying new things... provide', 'stepping out... make') and prepositional errors ('aware with' instead of 'aware of'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are minor slips. While the student attempts complex structures, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. The errors do not impede communication, but they are noticeable and occur with enough regularity to suggest a need for more careful proofreading of basic grammatical rules.

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

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