Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-09

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 6.0)

Friends play an important role in our life. They shape the way we think, believe and act. They are like a second family. There are a lot of things we discuss with friends, which we would never discuss with our families as they share similar experiences and listen and understand us better.

Different people like different kind of friends. Some people choose friends who always have same opinions as them or agree with them. These people are comfortable befriending someone who has similar experiences like them and validate their thoughts and feelings. These friends make these people seen and heard. This choice of choosing a yes man kind of friend might stem from what is going on in their families. I have a few acquaintances who are not happy in their family beause their parents or siblings don't support or understand them so they usually become friends with someone with similar personality and thoughts.

Just like every coin has another side, similarly this aspect has another side too. The people who choose friends with a different personality from them. Friends who sometimes disagree with them. These people like challenges in life and they want something new. They feel if they befriend someone who is just like them, they might get bored and they want something interesting in life. They look for new experiences with people that is why they go for friends who have different opinions and also disagree with them.

I believe why do we need to choose only one when we can have both type of friends to fill different voids of our life. When we are feeling low, we can have a friend who agrees with us, validates our feelings and understands what we are going through. On the contrary if we are looking for different experiences in life and want to grow and see world from a different perspective, we can have a friend who challenges our beliefs and pushes us to try new things. I believe having both kind of friends creates a balance in life and help us in different aspects of it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, particularly in the final paragraph where you synthesize the two views. However, the development of the first perspective (friends with similar opinions) is slightly repetitive, focusing heavily on family dynamics rather than broader social or intellectual benefits. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph explores the implications of the viewpoint more deeply. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, meeting the requirements for a well-supported argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled well using phrases like 'Just like every coin has another side'. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the start of sentences often relies on simple structures. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'conversely') to create a more sophisticated, natural connection between your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some effective phrases like 'validate their thoughts' and 'fill different voids'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat limited and occasionally repetitive (e.g., the frequent use of 'friends' and 'different'). There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'yes man kind of friend', which is slightly informal for an IELTS essay. To improve, try to incorporate more precise, academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and elevate the tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'different kind of friends' (should be 'kinds'), 'beause' (spelling error), and 'both type of friends' (should be 'types'). Additionally, some sentences are slightly fragmented or lack grammatical precision, such as 'That is why they go for friends who have different opinions and also disagree with them.' Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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