Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people think it's better to choose friends who always have the same opinions as them. Other people believe it's good to have friends who sometimes disagree with them.

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 7.0)

A friend in need is a friend indeed. In this contemporary world, some individuals believe that it is preferable to select friends who share similar ideas; whereas, others argue that it is better to have peers who are opponents and their opinions differ. In my opinion, friends who have different ideas are better to have in life as they would provide guidance and solution from a different perspective.

To commence with, individuals sharing same kind of thoughts as well as ideas would not generate disputes or conflicts between them. For instance, they can carry out the same activities together like going to gym for fitness, or travelling together to the same destination. Moreover, peers whose ideas and opinions are identical, they tend to have profound friendship and lasts longer. According to the recent quiz made in Uruguay, 40% of the population mentioned that the only friendship that lasts for lifetime are the ones who share same thoughts and activities.

On the flip side, counterparts who do not agree with each other can be beneficial in its own ways. It can promote growth and broadens perspective of an individual. Additionally, engaging with diverse viewpoints can encourage critical thinking and challenged notions of a person. Therefore, it results into learning and developing as an individual. This kind of friendship can foster empathy and open-mindness in accepting of different opinions.

To recapitulate, both kinds of friendships are significant as it is pivotal to cultivate a balance between these two. Although, in my opinion, friends sharing similar ideas and thoughts are better together and it would be a suitable balance for personal as well as professional growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views and providing a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph relies on a rather generic example about going to the gym, and the reference to a 'quiz in Uruguay' feels unsupported and lacks depth. While the position is clear, the conclusion contradicts the earlier argument in the third paragraph, creating a slight inconsistency in the overall stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that arguments are fully extended with more logical reasoning rather than just listing potential benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', 'On the flip side', and 'To recapitulate' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are minor issues with referencing and flow; for instance, the phrase 'beneficial in its own ways' is slightly vague, and the transition between the final paragraph's summary and the personal opinion could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is coherent, and paragraphing is managed appropriately throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language such as 'contemporary world', 'profound friendship', and 'cultivate a balance'. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'challenged notions of a person' (which should be 'challenging the notions') and 'accepting of different opinions'. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. The use of 'opponents' to describe friends with different opinions is also slightly unnatural in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the only friendship that lasts for lifetime are' (subject-verb agreement) and 'results into learning' (incorrect preposition). Additionally, there are minor punctuation issues, such as the misuse of semicolons and commas in the introductory paragraph. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A greater focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would improve the accuracy of the writing.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.