Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-07
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)
A group of individuals believe that choosing friend circle should be same as their vibe and others are of the opinion that friends with different view points from each other is best for selecting friends. In this essay i will discuss both views and state my own belief.
Firstly, Choosing friends with same opinion will help them to enjoy their moments better than other. Because there will not be any second opinion of anything. they evenly agrees to their views. For instance, there were my childhood friend who always wish to sit together in the class room because, we both have same interest and we were middle bench students.
Moreover, People with same opinion with same opinion will help to avoid conflicts in between them.
On the other hand, gangs of friends with different opinion will help in different situations. When we are doing something new, there must have people with different views will helps to get rid off the dangers. In addition , it will give new knowledge to every one in the group.
For example, when I was pursuing my degree I tried to group with well studying people to get understand the things more clearly.
Furthermore, these people also believe that this peers will give different experience compared to the same opinion peers.
I strongly believe that, we must be friend with all kind of peoples having different view points which will helps us all in all the ways that we could not imagine, even when we are in danger.
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 essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. For example, the argument for having friends with similar opinions is supported by a brief personal anecdote, but the reasoning remains superficial. The second body paragraph regarding diverse opinions is also underdeveloped; while you mention 'dangers' and 'new knowledge,' these points are not fully explained or illustrated with sufficient depth. To improve, ensure each main idea is supported by a clear explanation and a more detailed example to meet the requirements for a higher band score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'Moreover, People with same opinion with same opinion' is repetitive and lacks smooth integration. Some sentences are disjointed, and the logical flow between ideas is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'same opinion' and 'different opinion' repeatedly, which limits the sophistication of your writing. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'friend circle' instead of 'friendship group' or 'peer group,' and 'well studying people' which is not a standard collocation. To improve, try to incorporate more academic vocabulary and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a broader range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'they evenly agrees'), missing articles, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'there must have people with different views will helps'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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