Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-03
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 5.5)
Irrefutably, having a good friend is always like a boom. Some individuals estimate that when choosing friends, their perspectives should be focused, so it would be superior if they have the same thinking however rests assume that friends with different opinions can have good relationships. This essay will discuss both these views along with my own viewpoint.
On the one hand, some people make friends who have identical opinions because it keeps a better understanding between them. More specifically, since friends who have the same decisions and Notions, there are more chances to have their plans fully succeed. Moreover, they will not have any conflicts and issues between them as the suggestions match each other. For example, if two friends have the same habit of listening to music, they can happily listen together without any concern. Thus, friends with the same behaviours are more satisfied with the friendship.
On the other hand, sometimes it is fine to have friends who advise oppositely as it can help to explore new experience. To be precise, friends who disagree with each other can enhance their knowledge after a debate on any topics they can share their views with each other. For instance, unless listening to another side of an issue, it is not fair to get an appropriate result on the basis of the first side. Hence, friends who disagree with another friend’s Notions are sometimes helpful as that can increase their knowledge and experience.
In conclusion, my opinion although dissimilar behaviour between friends can provide opportunities to have new experiences, the same qualities make the relationship more strong between two friends as they will not have quarrels due to have a similar agreements so bonding between them will be more.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views and providing a personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though the development is somewhat basic. For instance, the argument for similar opinions focuses on avoiding conflict, while the argument for differing opinions focuses on knowledge expansion. While the position is clear, the development lacks depth and nuance, often relying on simple examples like listening to music. To reach a higher band, you should provide more sophisticated reasoning and concrete, real-world examples to support your points, rather than relying on generalisations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, each with a central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally awkward, such as in the final sentence where the phrasing 'due to have a similar agreements' is grammatically disjointed and hinders the logical progression of the conclusion. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are instances of unnatural word choice and collocation errors. For example, 'like a boom' is an incorrect idiom, and 'advise oppositely' is not standard English. You attempt to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'irrefutably' and 'notions', but these are sometimes used in contexts that feel slightly forced or imprecise. To improve, focus on learning natural collocations and using words that fit the formal tone of an IELTS essay more precisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'since friends who have the same decisions and Notions, there are more chances' and 'unless listening to another side of an issue'. Punctuation is generally functional, but there are issues with sentence boundaries and word forms. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of conjunctions would be beneficial.
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