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.
On the one hand, proponents of novelty maintain that 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.
On the other hand, supporters of familiarity argue that stability is equally important in life. Although new experiences can be stimulating, they also create uncertainty, 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
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by discussing both attitudes towards novelty and familiarity, while clearly stating a personal position in the introduction and reinforcing it throughout the essay. The ideas are well developed and extended appropriately. For instance, the discussion on novelty provides relevant examples such as travelling and sampling different cuisines, while the counter-argument about familiarity cites ordering comfort food after a demanding week. The position is maintained consistently from the introductory paragraph through to the conclusion, meeting all the requirements of a Band 7.5 or 8 performance under Task Achievement. The response demonstrates a clear understanding of the prompt requirements and develops each point logically and thoroughly without any major omissions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a balanced introduction, followed by well-defined body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint ('On the one hand', 'On the other hand'), and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For example', and 'Thus' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring smooth transitions between contrasting ideas. The overall structure is coherent and easy to follow, aligning closely with the descriptors for Band 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Less common lexical items are used appropriately, such as 'contentious', 'monotony', 'proponents', and 'uncertainty'. There is a good awareness of collocation and style, as seen in phrases like 'escape the monotony of daily life' and 'peace of mind in otherwise stressful lives'. Although occasional common expressions are used, there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The lexical range is solid and comfortably fits the criteria for Band 7.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The student exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms, showing good control over grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include 'While some prefer established routines for stability, others enjoy experimenting with new things' and 'Although new experiences can be stimulating, they also create uncertainty...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled accurately throughout the text. The rare minor flaws or stylistic awkwardnesses do not impede communication in any way. This level of grammatical control and variety reflects a strong Band 7.5 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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