Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-12
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)
Nowadays, people like to do according to their wishes. It is often argued that some people like to explore new things, while others like to keep doing things they are familiar with. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe, both views are similar.
On the one hand, trying new things like visiting new places and enjoying different types of food, are some beneficial habits. Some people are more interested to do new things in each day. For instance, doing multiple activities simultaneously, encourages us to get rid off boring. It help them to gain more knowledge and give new experiences. Also, it aid to be active all time.
On the other hand, some people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with. Comfort and convenient are the major reasons behind this. The people will have more confidence in a job which they are more familiar with. By continuously doing a same thing for a longer period, we could find the tricks or easiest way to do it.
However, both views have some disadvantages. Because, by doing a same thing all the time is really tiring and boring. Doing new things will be a time consuming task. We cannot predict whether it is good or not. But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
In conclusion, both the views are similar and it has its unique features. Doing same thing is a comfort and easiest thing. Trying new things are inte
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, though the development is limited. The essay is under the 250-word minimum, which negatively impacts the depth of the arguments. While the prompt asks for a discussion of both attitudes, the ideas remain somewhat superficial. For example, the benefits of trying new things are mentioned briefly without substantial supporting evidence or examples. The conclusion is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence, which prevents a clear summary of the position. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations and ensure the essay meets the minimum word count requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic paragraphing and some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. The transition between the body paragraphs and the conclusion is abrupt, and the final sentence is unfinished, which disrupts the logical flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'both views are similar', which is not fully explained or supported. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, well-developed topic sentence that links back to the main argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'get rid off boring' (should be 'boredom') and 'aid to be active all time' (should be 'helps one stay active'). The range is limited, relying on simple descriptors like 'good', 'boring', and 'tiring'. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to personal development, comfort zones, and risk-taking. Additionally, be careful with word forms and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('It help them', 'it aid to be'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction ('people like to do according to their wishes'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, specifically subject-verb agreement and correct verb forms, to improve your overall control of the language.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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