Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-11

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 people believe that it is preferable to have friends who share similar opinions and attitudes, while others argue that friendships can be more beneficial when people are willing to disagree with each other. Although having similar views can make relationships more comfortable, I believe that occasional disagreement is more valuable because it encourages people to consider different perspectives.

On the one hand, having friends with similar opinions can make relationships easier and more enjoyable. When people have comparable attitudes towards important issues, they are less likely to experience arguments or misunderstandings. For example, friends who share similar interests and views about lifestyle choices may find it easier to decide how to spend their free time together. As a result, having similar opinions can create a sense of comfort, trust and mutual understanding within a friendship.

On the other hand, friendships can be strengthened when people sometimes express different opinions. Disagreement can encourage individuals to look at situations from another perspective and reconsider ideas that they may have previously accepted without question. For instance, a friend who challenges someone's decision about their career may help them identify potential problems and make a more informed choice. Therefore, I believe that respectful disagreement is beneficial because it promotes personal growth while allowing friends to provide honest and constructive advice.

In conclusion, although friendships based on similar opinions may involve fewer conflicts, I believe that having friends who occasionally disagree is more beneficial. Such relationships can expose people to different perspectives and help them develop better judgement and understanding.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the comfort of shared opinions and the growth potential of disagreement—and maintained a consistent position throughout. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of lifestyle choices and career decision-making. The structure is logical, and the conclusion effectively synthesises the arguments presented. To reach the highest band, you could further extend your examples to provide even more depth, but the current response is comprehensive and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using effective cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of information is natural, and the reader is guided clearly through your argument without any confusion. The cohesion is managed well, making the text easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'reconsider ideas that they may have previously accepted without question' and 'constructive advice' show a good command of language. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the context, it is functional rather than highly sophisticated. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations related to interpersonal relationships. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task and shows no significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures and subordinate clauses ('Although having similar views...', 'When people have comparable attitudes...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical accuracy. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied sentence lengths and advanced syntactic structures to add more stylistic flair.

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

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