Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28
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 people like to try new things in their life as visiting new places and try different types of food while other prefer to do things according to their comfort zone.
On the one hand, trying new things can provide people with valuable experiences and help them learn about the world. Visiting different places allows people to understand new cultures, traditions and lifestyles. Similarly, trying different types of food can help people discover new flavours and develop their preferences. Another benefit is that new experiences can make life more interesting and exciting. For example, a person who travels to another country may learn about its culture and meet people from different backgrounds. Therefore, trying new things can increase people's knowledge and confidence.
On the other hand, some people prefer to do things that they are familiar with because they feel more comfortable and secure. Trying something new can sometimes be stressful, especially when people do not know what to expect. For instance, some people may prefer eating at their favourite restaurant because they already know that they enjoy the food there. Similarly, they may choose to visit places they have been to before because they are familiar with the environment. This can save time and reduce the risk of having a disappointing experience.
In my opinion, although familiar activities provide comfort and security, I believe that trying new things is more beneficial. New experiences can help people become more confident, knowledgeable and open-minded. Therefore, people should occasionally step outside their comfort zone and experience something different.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both attitudes and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on cultural understanding versus the desire for security. However, the development is somewhat predictable and could benefit from more specific, nuanced examples to reach a higher band. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments presented. To improve, ensure that the personal opinion is more deeply integrated into the body paragraphs rather than just stated in the introduction and conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. While the flow is logical, the range of cohesive devices is somewhat standard. To move to a higher band, try to vary the linking phrases and ensure that the relationship between sentences is even more tightly knit through more sophisticated referencing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. You use some good topic-specific collocations such as 'comfort zone', 'valuable experiences', and 'disappointing experience'. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common vocabulary. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a higher level of control. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and academic collocations to enhance the sophistication of your writing, such as using 'familiarity' instead of 'things that they are familiar with'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'as visiting new places and try different types of food' (should be 'such as visiting... and trying') and 'other prefer' (should be 'others prefer'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To achieve a higher band, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and parallel structure in lists. Increasing the variety of complex sentence forms, such as using more conditional or passive constructions, would also be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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