Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-04
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)
Friends play a crucial role in shaping one's personality and decisions. The majority of individuals believe that choosing friends who have similar opinions is better for development, whilst others find that disagreement with friends teaches valuable life lessons. This essay will discuss both viewpoints along with why I believe that friends with different opinions are more beneficial.
On one hand, friends with the same thinking can make relationships stronger and deeper. In such cases, people can share values, beliefs and are less likely to argue on important issues. Therefore, it leads to a peaceful and comfortable friendship where individuals can enjoy the same hobbies, support each other and communicate without hesitation. For example, friends who have the same career goals can share information with each other and encourage each other's decisions.
On the other hand, friends with different opinions help individuals grow and broaden their horizons. They introduce individuals to different perspectives, challenge assumptions and improve critical thinking. One can become open- minded to all opinions which can help to enhance their problem-solving skills. For example, by receiving different views, one can handle a difficult situation with the implications of different ideas.
In my opinion, having friends with different interests can encourage personal growth. It can open doors to different learning opportunities. People can pursue any interest or hobby out of their comfort zone to become more adaptable and flexible.
Overall, although having similar thoughts makes friendship easier and reletable but, challenging each other's viewpoints could be more adventurous. It may bring sparks to life by making each conversation more interesting and playful.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported. For instance, the argument regarding 'broadening horizons' and 'critical thinking' is well-developed. However, the development of the opinion paragraph is slightly brief compared to the body paragraphs, and the conclusion could be more robust in summarising the main points. Overall, the response maintains a consistent position throughout, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled well using standard cohesive devices like 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand'. While the paragraphing is appropriate, some of the linking phrases are a bit mechanical. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the final opinion and the conclusion could be smoother. The structure is sufficient to guide the reader through the argument effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You have used some good collocations such as 'broaden their horizons', 'challenge assumptions', and 'career goals'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'reletable' instead of 'relatable', and some slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'bring sparks to life'. While the range is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision, it does not consistently demonstrate the flexibility or the use of less common lexical items required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'makes friendship easier and reletable but, challenging each other's viewpoints could be more adventurous'—the punctuation here is slightly incorrect, and the parallel structure is weak. Despite these minor issues, your control over complex structures is generally good, and the errors are not frequent enough to detract from the overall quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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