Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that it is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own.

Discuss both these views 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)

It is widely believed by some that children should be motivated to be the part of organized group activities in their free time. While rest of the people argue that children should be allowed to use the time by their choice without any interference. I see both the ideas offering separate benefits like group activities can offer socialization skills and enhance communication. Whereas, personal time can allow children to explore their interests and learn new things on their own pace. I will discuss both the sides of the argument along with valid reasons and examples in the following essay.

To begin with the benefits of participating in group activities, I feel it is a great way to introduce children at early age to the real world. Interacting with new people will motivate children to push their abilities to communication and present their points among the crowd. As a result, they will learn to listen, make decision, take opinions from others, and work in team. Secondly, group tasks will allow children to socialize and make new friends. During various activities they will offer and ask for support from other kids around them. Talking, helping, and regular meetups will create a space to make new friends and learn things in a friendly way. So, I think organized group activities will provide real-time learning and built lifetime personal skills.

Nevertheless, there are several advantages of letting children learn new things on their own. Firstly, they can learn concepts of their interest in their personal space on the pace they feel comfortable. There will be no force to do things on other people's term. During the process they can analyze their mistakes, work to excel, and also be vulnerable without any hesitation. Overall, it is an effective way to self-learn but lacks adequate support and expertise.

In my opinion, there should be a balance of both the activities with respect to the choice of the child. Being part of organized groups can offer great perks but sometimes it is also healthy to utilize free time for self-reflection and learning. Personal space should be allowed to children to keep their passions alive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and give a clear position: your conclusion recommends balancing organised activities with time for individual interests. The discussion of group activities is the more fully developed side, with relevant outcomes such as communication, listening, decision-making and friendship. Your account of independent time also identifies useful benefits, including learning at a comfortable pace and reflecting on mistakes, but it is less extended and supported. The phrase “lacks adequate support and expertise” briefly introduces a limitation, yet you do not explain when this might matter or how it affects your overall view. To strengthen the response further, develop this side with a specific example and make the reasons for your preferred balance more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a concluding opinion. Ideas generally progress logically, and signposting such as “To begin with,” “Secondly,” and “Nevertheless” helps readers follow the discussion. The conclusion also returns to the central contrast. Some linking is a little mechanical, however, and the opening paragraph previews the essay in a formulaic way (“I will discuss both the sides…”). Within paragraphs, several ideas are placed in sequence without showing their precise relationship; for example, the list of skills gained from group work could be connected more explicitly to the later claim about lifelong skills. Use fewer stock transitions and make links between claims and explanations more specific.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “socialization skills,” “self-reflection,” “personal space,” and “organized group activities.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and you attempt some less common expressions. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “push their abilities to communication,” “on other people's term,” and “built lifetime personal skills.” “Real-time learning” is also not the clearest expression for learning through group activities. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim to learn vocabulary in common combinations and check whether a phrase fits its intended meaning; for instance, describe children as developing communication skills rather than pushing their abilities to communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including contrast clauses beginning with “While” and “Whereas,” and sentences explaining results with “As a result.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “children should be motivated to be the part” has an article and construction problem, while “make decision” needs a plural form. In “on other people's term,” the noun form is also incorrect, and “there should be a balance of both the activities” uses an unnecessary article. The opening “Whereas, personal time…” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. Review articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries, and check that each contrast clause is attached to a complete main clause.

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