Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-22

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some areas of the US, a 'curfew' is imposed, in which teenagers are not allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

What is your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 7.5)

In certain areas of the United States, teenagers are not allowed to stay outside late at night unless they are accompanied by an adult. While this policy can improve safety and reduce crime, it may also limit teenagers' independence. Therefore, a balanced approach is necessary.

On the one hand, curfews can provide significant protection for young people. Nighttime can present various dangers, including criminal activity or unsafe environments. Adolescents may lack the experience needed to handle such situations effectively. By limiting their presence in public places late at night, authorities can help reduce the chances of teenagers becoming involved in harmful activities. In addition, curfews may lower the level of youth-related disturbances such as noise, vandalism, or street gatherings, thereby improving community safety.

On the other hand, strict curfew regulations may restrict teenagers' personal development. Adolescence is a period when individuals begin to develop independence and learn to make responsible decisions. If young people are excessively controlled, they may have fewer opportunities to build confidence and social skills. For example, teenagers who attend late school events, social gatherings, or part-time jobs may find curfew rules inconvenient or unfair. A more practical solution would be to implement flexible curfews that allow certain exceptions for educational, social, or family-related activities. This would ensure that teenagers remain protected while still having opportunities to grow and develop responsibility.

In conclusion, although curfews can enhance safety and reduce public disturbances, they should be applied with flexibility so that teenagers can gradually develop independence while remaining protected.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear position ('a balanced approach is necessary') and supporting it throughout with relevant arguments. The writer considers both sides of the argument: the safety benefits of curfews, such as reducing crime and public disturbances, and the potential drawbacks regarding teenagers' personal development and independence. Ideas are well-developed and extended logically, such as the example provided regarding part-time jobs and school events, leading to a practical solution of flexible curfews. This aligns well with the Band 8 descriptor, as all parts of the prompt are covered thoroughly and the position is well-maintained.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introductory outline, moving to the arguments for curfews ('On the one hand'), then the counter-arguments ('On the other hand'), and finishing with a cohesive conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally without being mechanical, such as 'In addition' and 'This would ensure'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. The structure is transparent and guides the reader smoothly from the introduction to the final summary, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0 or 7.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, using less common lexical items appropriately, such as 'significant protection', 'criminal activity', 'personal development', and 'public disturbances'. Word choices and collocations are generally natural, as seen in phrases like 'excessively controlled' and 'implement flexible curfews'. There are very few lexical errors, and communication is never impeded. The vocabulary easily meets the criteria for Band 7, showing good awareness of style and topic-specific terminology without reaching the consistently sophisticated control required for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response features a wide variety of complex structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The writer successfully employs conditional and dependent clauses, such as 'While this policy can improve safety..., it may also limit...' and 'If young people are excessively controlled, they may have fewer opportunities...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Grammar and control are strong, with only occasional minor slips that do not interfere with readability. This performance is comfortably situated at Band 8, demonstrating strong command over a wide range of grammatical structures.

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.