Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

There is an ongoing debate regarding people who like to try new and different things, for example, places to visit and type of food. There are other people who prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I support people who like novelity.

On the one hand, many individuals like to try unfamiliar flavors and travel to places never visited before because it boosts the mental health. Trying to change the routine positively impacts the brain, helps to understand new cultures and expands the nutritional intake. Travelling to new places offers great experiences where people can appreciate the nature and its beauty while lowering the stress levels. Exploring different types of food enhance the taste buds because global cuisines includes variety of spices and blend of flavors.

On the other hand, many people prefer sticking to their routines and familiar habits as it is difficult for them to come out of their comfort zone. One significant reason is that already tasted food and visited places ensure emotional safety and they do not have to deal with the burden of evaluating new choices. Another factor is that there is no risk of paying for a meal or trip that fails to meet their expactations.

In conclusion, while both perspectives hold merit, I believe that exploring new places and trying on variety of foods is both challenging and exciting. It offers great experiences and one needs tour and search for variable options that nature provides us.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the mental health benefits of novelty versus the emotional safety of routine. However, the development is somewhat limited; the arguments are stated rather than fully extended with detailed examples. For instance, the mention of 'nutritional intake' or 'emotional safety' could have been supported by a specific personal anecdote or a more detailed explanation to reach a higher band. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the writer's stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel slightly disjointed due to the limited variety of linking words used to connect ideas within the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. The student uses some good collocations like 'boosts the mental health', 'taste buds', and 'comfort zone'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'novelity' (novelty), 'appreciate the nature' (appreciate nature), and 'tour and search for variable options' (which is unclear). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Spelling errors like 'expactations' also occur, though they do not impede overall communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is an attempt to use complex sentences, such as 'While both perspectives hold merit, I believe that...', which shows good control. However, there are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('global cuisines includes') and article usage ('appreciate the nature'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the message. The punctuation is generally accurate, but the overall control of complex structures is not consistent enough to reach the 7.0 band.

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

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