Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-29

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 8.0)

Some think it is beneficial to have friends who share their views, while others argue that friends who disagree are better. Although it is good to have friends with the same mindset because they can help make some life choices, I strongly believe that having friends with opposite opinions is necessary to prevent a person from developing bad habits.

On the one hand, it is often claimed that friends with similar viewpoints are helpful substantially when making certain life choices. That is to say, two science classmates deciding on a career path can assist each other to a very large extent because they have studied the same subjects together and know each other's merits and demerits quite well. For instance, in India, a group of friends often end up in the same company for an internship due to their similar mindsets. Thus, like-minded individuals greatly impact each other's decisions. However, I opine that friends with different perspectives are sometimes necessary.

On the other hand, a person can be prevented from bad habits if he or she has friends who disagree sometimes. One key argument is that teenagers can get easily influenced by cigarettes to look cool, as depicted in some movies. However, their friends who do not agree with smoking can save them by informing their parents. For example, a survey conducted in the USA in 2025 found that many school students gave up bullying their juniors when their friends stopped talking to them because they did not like that. Therefore, it is crucial to have friends in life who do not agree with some decisions.

To conclude, despite having friends with the same opinions being important for some life decisions, I maintain my view of having friends who disagree to prevent bad habits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, particularly the distinction between career decision-making and moral guidance. However, the development of these ideas could be more extensive. For instance, the example regarding the Indian internship is a bit brief, and the argument about bullying could be expanded to explain why disagreement specifically is the catalyst for change. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting example is fully linked back to the core argument to provide more depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'That is to say', and 'Therefore' effectively to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two distinct viewpoints. The progression of ideas is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more, as some transitions are quite standard. Overall, the flow of information is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas with precision. Phrases like 'merits and demerits', 'like-minded individuals', and 'opposite opinions' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some collocations could be more natural. For example, 'helpful substantially' is slightly awkward; 'substantially helpful' or 'highly beneficial' would be more natural. You avoid repetition and maintain a formal tone throughout the response. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and idiomatic expressions that sound more native-like.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You show good control over a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, and your meaning is always clear. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. For example, 'despite having friends with the same opinions being important' is a complex structure that is handled well. You use punctuation correctly to separate clauses. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your grammatical range.

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