Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-19

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 recent years, an increasing number of people like to try new things, such as visiting new places and eating different food. However, there are some people who prefer to follow the same routine without any changes. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

On the one hand, the reason why people don't prefer to try new things is they feel secure and comfortable in their daily routine. Many individuals often enjoy their lives as it is, because they may feel uncomfortable to put them in new environments. Generally, they feel confused when they visit new places because of language barriers or unfamiliar food, which may put them in some risks of getting lose or health issues such as food poisoning. For example, if a person who speak English went to France where are not much English speakers, and they lost direction, as a result they may find it difficult to ask for address which can put them into stress. While, there is no risk of being lost at their own home town where they are familiar with everything.

On the other hand, visiting new places or trying new places can significantly enhance person's knowledge and experience. It is often seen when a person put them in unfamiliar situations, their mind works better, and they learn new things more quickly. Many people who like to visit new places, they usually do some research about the place prior to visit. For instance, if they are going to France, they would try to learn few words or sentence to communicate their or search the food which they can try. So, in a way, this trend increase their ability to learn.

In my opinion, I prefer to try new things because it brings excitement in my life. Performing same things can be boring and can give you a sense of looniness. While going to place can give you an opportunity to meet new people and learn their culture.

In conclusion, However following the same routine or food can give you a sense of security, visiting new places or trying different food can lead to learn new things and encourage the social life.

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, though some development is slightly repetitive. For instance, the discussion on the risks of travel (getting lost, health issues) is a good start, but the explanation could be more nuanced. The personal opinion is clear, though it could be better integrated into the overall structure of the essay. The essay maintains a consistent position throughout, which is a strength. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more depth rather than just listing examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some instances where the flow is slightly mechanical, and some transitions are a bit abrupt, such as the start of the conclusion. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'significantly enhance' and 'unfamiliar situations', which is positive. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'put them in some risks of getting lose' (should be 'at risk of getting lost') and 'looniness' (likely meant 'loneliness'). These errors do not impede communication but indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and collocations to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there is an attempt at complex grammar, there are frequent errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'a person who speak English' (should be 'speaks') and 'at their own home town' (should be 'in their own hometown'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some minor slips. The majority of the sentences are understandable, but the frequency of these grammatical errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency would be beneficial.

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

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