Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-17

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 7.5)

The debate over whether people should embrace unfamiliar experiences or continue with familiar practices is contentious. While some prefer established routines for stability, others enjoy experimenting with new things. In my view, embracing novelty is more beneficial because it adds excitement to life, broadens people's perspectives and enriches their experiences.

Exploring new experiences, such as visiting unfamiliar places and trying different types of food, can bring adventure into people’s lives. More importantly, these activities can help individuals to escape the monotony of daily life. Furthermore, travelling to new destinations and sampling different cuisines can broaden people’s knowledge and enrich their life experiences. For example, travelling to a new country can provide an opportunity to gain insight into a different culture while creating memorable experiences. Therefore, people who actively seek novelty may benefit not only from greater excitement but also from a broader understanding of the world.

However, stability is equally important in life. Although new experiences can be stimulating, they also create uncertainity, particularly for people already facing pressure in their lives. In such circumstances, following familiar routines and visiting known places can provide a sense of comfort and peace. For instance, after a demanding week, people may order their favourite comfort food at the weekend because they know what to expect and can therefore avoid unnecessary surprises. Thus, familiar places, foods and activities can provide peace of mind in otherwise stressful lives.

In conclusion, although familiar things can offer comfort and stability, I believe embracing new experiences is more beneficial because it can alleviate daily boredom, increase cultural awareness and broaden people's understanding of the world. Therefore, people should make greater efforts to explore unfamiliar experiences regularly in order to develop their personality, enrich their lives and experience excitement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by discussing both attitudes towards novelty and familiarity, while clearly stating their own position in the introduction and reinforcing it throughout the essay. The ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as travelling to a new country for cultural insight and ordering comfort food after a demanding week. The arguments flow logically from one paragraph to the next, satisfying the requirements for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, showing a clear progression throughout the essay. The response is divided into appropriate paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs exploring opposing views, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are managed well without being overly mechanical, using linking phrases such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Thus' effectively to guide the reader through the argumentation. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, corresponding well to Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, successfully using less common lexical items such as 'monotony', 'contentious', and 'alleviate daily boredom'. There is a good awareness of collocation and style, although there is a minor spelling slip with 'uncertainity' in the third paragraph. The vocabulary used is more than adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey precise meanings clearly, fitting the Band 7 criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses starting with 'While' and 'Although', alongside conditional and participial phrases. There is a high proportion of error-free sentences, and the control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong. Although a minor spelling error ('uncertainity') occurs, grammatical accuracy remains high and never impedes communication. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.

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