Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-29

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 5.5)

It is argued that some people enjoy trying out new things like visiting places and foods while others argue that it is better they keep doing the things they are used to. Exploring new places and foods can be entertaining and educating, hence, it is also a good choice to do the things they are used to as this may have side effects on their health. The latter ends of this essay will discuss both views and give my thought concerning both views.

Firstly, visiting places and foods is majorly for people who like exploring and have good tolerance to different types of food. Also visiting places and trying variety of food can be educating as the individual is exposed to different culture, languages and variety of food. Although, I believe that it is good to try out new things and places as this have a way of educating people and creating awareness about the ongoings in the other places, I also believe they should have the right to keep doing the things they are used to.

Secondly,sticking with the things they are familiar with can reduce the risks of eating food that may not sit right with their system. So many persons have weak immune system and may not be able to cope with the weather changes in other place; hence, why it is believed that continuiety in the things they are used to is better. For example, a lady with less tolerance for cold weather travelled for vacation to a city in Canada. She was hospitalised few days after her arrival as a result of low tolerance to cold. Hence, i believe it is better they continue doing what they are familiar with.

In conclusion,although visiting places and trying variety of food can be educating and entertaining, continueing the things they are familiar with is also not a bad choice as this have a way of reducing health risk related to visiting places and trying new food.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both attitudes and give a preference, particularly in the discussion of the educational value of new experiences and the health risks of unfamiliar food or climates. The Canada example supports the second view, and your conclusion restates the contrast. However, the position is not fully clear: you first say trying new things is a good choice, then say people should keep to familiar activities, and finally favour continuing familiar routines. The first view is also developed mainly through general claims about learning, without a specific example or much explanation. Clarify which attitude you ultimately support and explain why, while developing both sides more evenly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two attitudes, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship clearly. For example, “hence” in the introduction joins ideas that seem to contrast, while “Although” in the first body paragraph is followed by a sentence that does not complete a clear contrast. The opening also promises to discuss both views, but the progression of your own position is difficult to track. Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make each paragraph’s main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “exploring,” “exposed,” “tolerance,” “immune system,” and “health risk,” which helps communicate the topic. There are also attempts at less common expressions, but several choices or combinations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the latter ends of this essay,” “visiting places and foods,” and “the ongoings in the other places.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “continuiety” and “continueing,” are noticeable. These issues sometimes make the intended meaning less precise, although the main ideas remain understandable. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling and word forms; for instance, refer to “trying unfamiliar foods” and “local customs” rather than combining “visiting” with “foods.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “Although,” “as,” and “hence,” and most of the message can be understood. However, errors in agreement and sentence construction recur. For example, “this have a way” should be “this has a way,” and “visiting places and trying variety of food can be educating” needs an article or plural form (“a variety of foods”). The sentence beginning “Although, I believe…” is awkwardly punctuated and does not form a clear concessive structure. There are also missing spaces after commas and inconsistent capitalisation of “I.” Work on subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete, well-punctuated complex sentences to make your meaning more consistently clear.

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