Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-25

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 about whether people should explore new experiences such as trying new food or visiting new venues, others intend that it is better to stick to doing things they are familiar with. This essay will examine both perspectives before I present my personal opinion.

To begin with, those who support the former view argue that by trying new things, individuals can gain experience. This is primarily because it would allow them to explore new aspects of life as per their interests and hobbies, bringing new experiences. Another imperative aspect worth considering is that they get happiness simply by carrying out new activities in their daily routine. This is particularly evident among adventurous who enjoy in their life by being part of something new. Therefore, a considerable number of people support this viewpoint due to its advantages.

Conversely, proponents of opposing view maintain that trying new things may bring financial instability.

To be more specific, visiting new places and new food would be extremely expensive especially when trying international travel or cuisine. However, people can keep themselves away with this issue by avoiding trying new experiences. Another notable benefit to this approach is that if people put greater emphasis on carrying out the same activities they do everyday, they would perform them without making a mistake. This is because they have become used to these tasks and thus would perform them efficiently.

In my personal opinion, despite being expensive, trying out new things is beneficial to broaden one's horizons. In other words, it would include meeting new people which would enhance communication skills and interpersonal skills which can be advantageous for their career growth.

Having examined both views carefully, I believe that although following the same routine is cost effective, trying out new things would bring more benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though some development is slightly thin. For instance, the argument regarding 'financial instability' is a valid point, but the explanation could be more nuanced. The position is consistent throughout the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis, rather than relying on general statements like 'bringing new experiences'. Overall, the response is well-structured and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints and the personal opinion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Conversely', and 'In my personal opinion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to create a more natural, sophisticated connection between thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common items, such as 'imperative aspect' and 'proponents', which demonstrate a good level of control. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'others intend that' (should be 'others argue') and 'adventurous who enjoy in their life' (should be 'adventurous people who enjoy their lives'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Expanding the range of precise vocabulary would enhance the overall quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation. For example, 'visiting new places and new food would be extremely expensive' contains a faulty parallel structure, and 'keep themselves away with this issue' is an awkward phrasing. There are also some missing articles and minor subject-verb agreement issues. The writer demonstrates a reasonable command of grammar, but the frequency of these small errors suggests that a higher level of accuracy is needed to achieve a band 7.0 or above.

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

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