Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27

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)

Children nowadays are confused on how to manage their free time. Some believe that they can participate in some organized group activities while others try to spend time by themselves. This is where parent's guidance needs to take place since most children, ask their parents for advice.

Joining an organized group activities can help children learn about working with other people. It is not just about socializing but also helps them about teamwork and working with a group. When I was younger, I used to join clubs and organizations at school that helped me bring out some potentials that I didn't know I had. It honed my skills and boosted my confidence as I was able to show other people the things that I could offer. I was able to use it today as a nurse working with the healthcare team.

On the other hand, some children nowadays prefer to spend time on their own and learn to be occupied without the help of other people. Some parents encourage their children in doing so beacuse there have been an increasing threats in the community. Some are brought about by strangers and others, by children of their age, too. So in spending time alone, especially at home, parents can monitor their children most of the time.

In my opinion, both options has their own importance. It will just be down to the child's preference if they are better in working with others or just spending time alone. But I lean more in taking part in organized group activities as it can help one socialize and improve their confidence into working with other people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—participation in organised group activities versus learning to be occupied alone—and clearly states a personal position in the conclusion. Ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the personal experience of joining clubs at school and how it relates to working as a nurse in healthcare. The writer also considers safety concerns as a reason for children staying at home, which adds depth to the second viewpoint. However, some arguments, particularly regarding safety, are slightly underdeveloped and could be elaborated further to reach higher band levels. Nevertheless, the main task requirements are successfully met with a clear and consistent stance throughout the essay, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint separately, and a distinct concluding paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are employed to link sentences and paragraphs, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In my opinion', although some linking can feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional shifts in pronouns or transitions (for example, connecting the safety argument in paragraph three) could be smoother. Overall, the logical progression is evident, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of thought. This corresponds well to a Band 6.0 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common items such as 'organized group activities', 'healthcare team', and 'monitor their children'. There are some instances of inaccurate word choice or minor lexical errors, such as 'confused on how' instead of 'confused about how', 'help them about teamwork' instead of 'help them learn about teamwork', and 'increasing threats' instead of 'increasing threats'. Spelling is generally accurate throughout the response. The range is sufficient to communicate the ideas clearly, although it lacks the flexibility and precision of higher bands. This performance fits comfortably within the Band 6.0 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and conditional structures. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues present, such as 'both options has their own importance' (subject-verb agreement error), 'encourage their children in doing so beacuse' (spelling error and preposition choice), and an unnecessary comma in 'confidence into working with other people'. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the response. The control over grammar is acceptable for a mixed structure profile, reflecting the characteristics of a Band 6 score.

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

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