Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
It is often argued that when choosing friends, one should check whether they share the same level of opinion. Others believe it is not mandatory to have the same opinion when discussing the topic. This essay will discuss both viewpoints before presenting my opinion.
On one hand, equivalent opinions matter a lot when discussing a particular topic, which creates a sense of importance and respectability among peers. In other words, when discussing a topic, the main thing that matters is whether another person has the same feelings; if not, it will transform a normal argument into a heated argument that might end in a breakup of friendships. Sometimes, the topic becomes so frustrating and hard to judge that a verbal argument converts into physical violence.
On the other hand, sometimes making friends with people who have different levels of opinion can become more helpful in our tough times. To expound, when having a conversation among two friends, it is not always possible that both have the same level of maturity. Sometimes, other people have greater depth of clarity, which one should accept and think according to, as it may be useful in the future in terms of career perspective. For example, when discussing a career, individuals should listen to their friends, think rationally, and come to a point where both should be satisfied rather than creating conflict.
In conclusion, people should follow a balanced approach when making friends and also not become egoistic while having a normal conversation. This way, they can come to a result, which will be an achievement for both in terms of respect and understanding.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both viewpoints and providing your own opinion. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For example, your argument regarding physical violence in the second paragraph is a bit extreme and lacks a logical connection to the topic of choosing friends. To improve, ensure your supporting points are more realistic and directly linked to the core theme of friendship dynamics. Your position is clear, but it could be more explicitly stated in the introduction and consistently reinforced throughout the body paragraphs to ensure a more cohesive argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to signal shifts in your argument. However, the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition in the second paragraph from discussing 'maturity' to 'career perspective' feels slightly abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the relationship between ideas is more fluid and less reliant on simple signposting.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mandatory', 'maturity', and 'egoistic'. However, there are instances where word choice is slightly unnatural or imprecise, such as 'check whether they share the same level of opinion' or 'breakup of friendships'. These choices do not impede communication, but they limit your score. To improve, work on collocations—for example, instead of 'breakup of friendships', 'deterioration of a friendship' or 'ending a friendship' would be more appropriate. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic or formal expressions will help you achieve a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'it is not always possible that both have the same level of maturity' is slightly awkward; a more natural phrasing would be 'it is not always the case that both friends possess the same level of maturity'. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. You have good control over basic structures, but to improve, focus on refining complex sentence construction and ensuring subject-verb agreement and article consistency throughout your writing.
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