Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-09

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 visitors and tourists like to travel to new, unknown places and to taste numerous types of new food dishes, while others are comfortable with the same things, such as regular food items, native places or traditional clothes. I firmly believe that individuals should try to explore new places and food items. The following paragraphs will further elucidate both views and pertinent examples to support them.

On the one hand, people are encouraged to go on international trips to explore cultural places, historical buildings, and gourmet foods. The foremost reason behind this is that they want to gain knowledge about different cultures and the history of their ancient lives. Besides that, they also want to eat new meals from various countries to explore new spices and methods of presentation. For example, travellers like to go abroad, such as to India, to try food dishes such as “Gujarati Thali,” which includes a starter, a meal and a sweet.

On the other hand, Individuals do not want to go outside their native places because they have a better attachment and feeling with their house and their own city. Besides that, they know the people who live with them and spend their leisure time every day; thus, they do not want to break their routine by going to other cities to explore and to meet an unknown civilization. Furthermore, they feel that their native food, which they use to eat from their childhood, is healthy and delicious. That is why they can not adopt new meals, even though they have a variety of spices and nutrients.

To recapitulate, each person has their own taste and type of hobby, such as eating new food and discovering places abroad. In my opinion, I prefer to travel to international destinations and eat new meals rather than staying at home because it has a plethora of benefits.

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 the development is somewhat basic. For instance, the argument for staying home relies on generalisations about 'attachment' and 'routine' without deep exploration. While the position is clear, the supporting arguments could be more nuanced to reach a higher band. The structure is logical, and the task requirements are met in full, providing a balanced view before concluding with the writer's preference.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'To recapitulate' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. The progression of ideas is clear, though the connection between the specific example of 'Gujarati Thali' and the broader argument about cultural exploration could be more tightly integrated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. There is an attempt to use less common items such as 'elucidate,' 'pertinent,' and 'plethora,' which demonstrates a good range. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'native places' (which sounds slightly unnatural in this context) and 'ancient lives.' While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, it lacks the precision and sophisticated control required for a higher band score. The range is functional but not particularly flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at complex sentences, such as 'That is why they can not adopt new meals, even though they have a variety of spices and nutrients.' However, there are occasional grammatical errors, such as 'they use to eat' (should be 'they are used to eating') and 'meet an unknown civilization' (which is slightly awkward). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, the writer should focus on refining verb tenses and ensuring more consistent control over complex structures.

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

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