Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-11

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)

Some individuals prefer trying new things, such as visiting new places and trying different cuisines, whereas critics keep doing the same things they know. Although constantly following a routine is pleasant because people are afraid of change, I believe that trying a different set of things is beneficial for personal growth.

On the one hand, people are scared of following a different set of routines. That is to say, working professionals think that if they change their job, they might not fit well in a new place. This is because they might have to learn a fresh skill set to get into the role, which ultimately makes them anxious. For example, a recent study illustrated that around 90% of Indian employees often work in the same department throughout their career because they are quite fond of their daily routine and are afraid of losing their jobs. However, my perspective is that trying new things is crucial for a person's career growth.

On the other hand, it is vital to try new things for a person's growth. One of the major reasons is that fresh opportunities provide exposure to other cultures and traditions. This is because if someone visits new places, he or she gets to meet local people, which in turn aids in learning a new language, customs, and traditions. For instance, each year thousands of international students study abroad for better career opportunities, for which they have to learn either a new language or a new skill. Therefore, new things must always be tried to get exposure to new opportunities.

To conclude, although trying new things is quite scary for some individuals, I firmly maintain my position that fresh things should be tried for the betterment of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the discussion on career stability versus personal growth. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph relies on a specific statistic about Indian employees, which feels slightly narrow, while the second paragraph could benefit from more specific examples beyond the general mention of international students. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis could be increased to reach a higher band by exploring the implications of these attitudes more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Therefore,' which help guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. However, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother in places to improve the overall flow. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with some good collocations like 'fresh skill set,' 'career growth,' and 'exposure to other cultures.' There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive or simplistic, such as 'fresh things' and 'doing the same things.' To improve, the student should aim for more precise synonyms to avoid repeating the same terms throughout the essay. The word choice is sufficient to convey meaning clearly without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For instance, the use of conditional structures and relative clauses is generally accurate. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; incorporating more varied sentence types, such as passive voice or inverted structures, would enhance the grammatical profile. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the writing is clear and readable.

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