Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-27

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)

The mindset of friends has become a widely debatable topic these days. Some support the fact that friends should be of the same mindset while, others believe that friends should have different mindsets. I will discuss both the views in the upcoming paragraphs and will state my opinion.

On the one hand, many people support the fact that friends should have the same mindset. This is because it is easier to connect with people of same mindset and they can understand your situations better than anyone else as they have been through same experiences and dealt with it the same way. Moreover, friends with the same mindset will support your ideas and views which will lead to less disagreements. Also, they will mostly have the same thoughts regarding the problems one face on daily basis. A study depicts that the friends with similar mindset tend to feel more secure in friendship than others. Therefore, many people prefer to choose friends with same mindset.

On the other hand, many feel that friends should have different mindset. This is due to the fact that friends with different mindset can overview different perspectives of a problem which was being missed by an individual. In addition to that, it is better to have a different opinion towards various things which will results in the better outcomes. Moreover, friends will different mindset can help in finding limitations of the issues which are being ignored by friends with similar mindset. A report states that people with different mindset tend to deal with difficult situations easier than the friends with similar mindset as friends with same mindset are more focused on almost same aspects of each problem. Hence, people try to make friends with different mindsets.

To conclude, I firmly believe that we should choose friends with different mindsets because they can perceive situations from different perspectives from us which will help us to deal with the situation in a better way. While, friends with same mindset can increase comfort, but they can limit each other from seeing outside the box.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, particularly in the body paragraphs. However, the development is slightly repetitive; the arguments for both sides rely heavily on the same phrasing ('same mindset' or 'different mindset'). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more nuanced exploration of the benefits and drawbacks, perhaps by providing more specific, concrete examples rather than general statements. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Moreover,' 'In addition to that,' and 'To conclude' to guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the repetition of the phrase 'same/different mindset' makes the cohesion feel slightly rigid. Improving the variety of linking words and using more sophisticated referencing would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'perspectives,' 'limitations,' and 'outcomes.' However, the vocabulary is somewhat limited by the constant repetition of the phrase 'same/different mindset.' To improve, you should use synonyms or paraphrasing to avoid lexical monotony. For instance, instead of repeating 'mindset,' you could use terms like 'ideological alignment,' 'divergent viewpoints,' or 'shared perspectives.' There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary used is appropriate for the context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is never impeded, there are some minor errors, such as 'which will results in' (should be 'result') and 'problems one face' (should be 'faces'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings like 'friends with different mindset can overview different perspectives.' You have a good grasp of basic structures, but to achieve a higher band, you should incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater precision and fewer minor errors.

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