Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-15

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)

In modern society, people hold differing views about food. While some believe that do experiement with new activities, such as when go on a picnic, experience a variety of dishes and different location, others argue that they enjoy the well-known activities which tried before. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own opinion.

On the one hand, supporters of the first view argue that exploring new opportunities is better than remaining in one's comfort zone. This is mainly because it exposes people to different cultures and broadens their knowledge. As a result, individuals get memorable adventures. For example, when visitors go to tourist places, they find a variety of cuisines with different flavors, such as Italian, Thai, and Indian food. Moreover, individuals explore diverse places they have never seen before, such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and the CN Tower in Canada, and experience their way of life, which highlights the effectiveness of this approach.

On the other hand, those who oppose this view believe that, instead of taking risks, enjoying the same location is much more effective. They claim that if citizens are not comfortable with new things, then not only do they not have a good time there, but also their money is wasted. For instance, some people do not prefer a variety of dishes and choose a familiar dish, even though they are in another country. This perspective equally worthy of consideration.

In my opinion, individuals should challenge themselves is more convincing. This is because it is beneficial to discover new interests and explore traditions. Although the opposing argument has some merit, it is less practical in real-life situations.

In conclusion, both views regarding unfamiliar activities have valid arguments. However, I believe that people should embrace new challenges is a more reasonable position due to its long-term benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both attitudes and state a clear preference for trying new experiences, especially in the final two paragraphs. The discussion of novelty is supported with examples of cuisines and landmarks, and you explain its benefits through cultural exposure and memorable experiences. This gives the response a solid, relevant foundation. However, the familiar-choice perspective is less fully developed: the claim that people may waste money or fail to enjoy themselves is asserted, but not explored with a specific reason or example beyond choosing familiar food. The opening also narrows the topic to food, although the prompt concerns new experiences more broadly. To strengthen the response further, develop both sides more evenly and explain more precisely why your preferred approach is beneficial in everyday life.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for each attitude, your opinion, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers identify the stages of the argument. Examples are generally placed alongside the ideas they support. Some linking is a little formulaic, and the relationship between points is occasionally unclear; for instance, “which highlights the effectiveness of this approach” does not specify exactly what the examples demonstrate. The opinion is also repeated in both the fourth paragraph and conclusion without adding much development. Use referencing and transitions more precisely, and make each paragraph advance the argument rather than restate it.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including phrases such as “remaining in one’s comfort zone,” “broadens their knowledge,” “diverse places,” and “long-term benefits.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and the examples of cuisines and traditions show some flexibility beyond basic vocabulary. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “do experiment with new activities,” “tourist places,” and “This perspective equally worthy of consideration.” “Effective” is also repeated in contexts where a more precise term would clarify the point. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision. Aim to learn common word partnerships and check spelling and word forms, including “experiment.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a conditional sentence (“if citizens are not comfortable with new things”) and the inversion “not only do they not have a good time…but also their money is wasted.” These show an effort to vary sentence patterns, and the overall meaning remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In the introduction, “While some believe that do experiment” lacks a correctly formed clause; “when go on a picnic” is missing a subject, and “which tried before” needs a passive form. Later, “This perspective equally worthy” is missing a verb, while “individuals should challenge themselves is more convincing” has an incorrect clause structure. Practise complete clause patterns and check verb forms and agreement, especially when expressing your opinion.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.