Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-11

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 6.0)

There is an ongoing debate about whether children should be encouraged to use spare time to get involved in group-based activities or encourage them to use their free time independently. Some people believe that it is beneficial for them if they take part in team activities. However, others believe that alone time is important to understand the innate talents. This essay will discuss the opinions of both sides before presenting my viewpoint.

On the one hand, children can learn a few skills such as team work, coordination and leadership when they work in a team, and these personality traits can be useful in the future lives. Moreover, When children participate in organised group activities, they can express their emotions and ideas more confidently. It leads to improved logical and emotional thinking. Children can become more confident when interacting with their peers.

On the other hand, the main reason for this view is that children can become more independent. A child can work alone and take decision on their own. Also, it helps to evaluate and learn from their mistakes. Furthermore, teenagers are vulnerable so parents try to stays away from any danger and mishappening.

In my viewpoint, youngsters should utilize their free time in working in group activities as well as alone. A group activities can teach them multiple languages and new skills. Moreover, a child can understand about his/her weaknesses and strength in a peaceful environment, and can improve abilities in that free time.

In conclusion, parents should understand the nature of the children and should motivate them to do their favourite activities whether in team or alone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'teenagers being vulnerable' in the second body paragraph is not clearly linked to the topic of independent play, making the argument feel slightly disconnected. While the prompt is addressed, the supporting points lack depth and specific examples, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that each paragraph focuses on fully explaining the 'why' and 'how' behind your claims rather than just listing benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Moreover,' and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the transition between the benefits of group activities and the mention of 'teenagers' in the second body paragraph is abrupt. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is sufficient for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'innate talents' and 'mishappening,' though the latter is not the most natural collocation in this context. Some phrasing is repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'free time' and 'activities.' To achieve a higher score, you should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'take decision' (should be 'make decisions'), 'parents try to stays away' (should be 'stay'), and 'A group activities' (should be 'Group activities'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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