Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-28
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)
Having friends who share views and opinion similar to ourselves or not is highly subjective.
On one hand, we have people who strongly believes that having friends who share same opinions is an asset as they can talk to each other freely on topics which are sometime controversial without worrying about having a quarrel with each other. For instance, having been able to talk to my friend about the condition of freedom of speech in my country and how government in recent times manipulated media to show the narrative that they want people to follow has led us to believe that our country is heading towards dictatorship and democracy is dying. Moreover, it helps one to feel more confident and courageous while talking about matters of concern with people alike us.
While on the other hand, we have people who believe that having friends who disagree with you is important and can be insightful as they will share their own opinions and present their own facts which can help us to learn and understand their perspective as well and in the process may as well bring a change in ourself. For example, recently i had a debate on the topic of Palestine war where she presented facts and how western media is making us believe that what Israel is doing is not a genocide. After learning what she has to say and presents, it forced me to change my opinion on the subject for better.
In conclusion, I believe one should have mix of friends as one who share your views helps you to express freely while having friends who disagree will help you to grow.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported by personal examples, such as the discussion on freedom of speech and the debate regarding the conflict in Palestine. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited; the arguments could be more thoroughly explored to reach a higher band. The position is consistent throughout, and the response maintains a clear focus on the topic, meeting the requirements for a balanced discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized into three paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs representing the opposing views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Moreover', 'While on the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, the transition between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother, and some referencing is slightly mechanical. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task, ensuring the essay remains coherent throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'subjective', 'controversial', and 'dictatorship'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'share views and opinion' (should be 'opinions') and 'change in ourself' (should be 'ourselves'). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. The vocabulary is functional but not particularly sophisticated.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('people who strongly believes' instead of 'believe') and missing articles ('government in recent times', 'change in ourself'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure occasionally feels repetitive. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and communication remains effective. To improve, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and pronouns.
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