Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-10

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 5.0)

These days, many people think that the best way to truly understand a country’s culture is by exploring new places and immersing themselves in local traditions. On the other hand, some believe that sticking to familiar surroundings while on vacation is a safer choice. Personally, I feel that giving yourself the freedom to explore can greatly enrich your character, as long as you take sensible precautions along the way.

First and foremost, travel is the finest way to discover the world. The best way to truly understand a country’s culture is by exploring new places and immersing yourself in local traditions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of the task. While the introduction presents a clear position and acknowledges both sides of the argument, the body paragraph is repetitive and fails to provide the necessary depth or examples required for a full discussion. The essay stops abruptly after only 101 words, meaning the prompt is only partially addressed. To improve, you must expand on your ideas with specific examples and ensure you provide a balanced discussion for both viewpoints before concluding.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is too short to demonstrate a full range of cohesive devices or effective paragraphing. The introduction is coherent, and the use of 'First and foremost' provides a logical start to the body, but the lack of further development means there is no overall progression of ideas. The text is essentially a fragment rather than a complete essay. To achieve a higher score, you need to structure your response into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt, and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your arguments logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is accurate and appropriate for the context, such as 'immersing themselves' and 'sensible precautions'. However, the range is limited due to the brevity of the response. There is some repetition, such as the phrase 'The best way to truly understand a country’s culture' appearing twice in the text. To improve, you should aim to use a broader range of topic-specific vocabulary and avoid repeating phrases, which will demonstrate a more flexible and sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar in the provided text is generally accurate, with no major errors that impede communication. You have used a mix of simple and complex structures, such as the conditional clause 'as long as you take sensible precautions'. However, because the response is so short, it is impossible to assess your ability to maintain accuracy over a longer piece of writing or to demonstrate a wide range of complex grammatical structures. Focus on expanding your writing to allow for more varied sentence patterns and complex constructions.

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

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