Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
There is an ongoing debate about whether people should choose friends based on similar opinion or it is better to have friends who sometimes have a different point of view. This essay will discuss both the viewpoints followed by my opinion in the conclusion.
To commence with, the primary reason why some people are in favour of keeping friends with similar mindset is less chances of conflicts. To expound, since people with similar opinions will have similar likes and dislikes, there are less chances of misunderstandings. Although, there might be a case when both the friends have a wrong opinion or answer to a question, they not feel jealous of each other as both of them made that decision. As a result, there will be less conflicts. For example, me and my friends have a similar interests. If I choose a restaurant or a bar for dine-out then they agree to that decision because they also like the vibrant and lively environment. Hence, we enjoy more rather than thinking about the atmosphere of the place.
On the contrary, some people content that it is better to have friends who sometimes disagree with your opinion. The dominant reason is that they believe have difference of opinion will open allow a friend circle to have more options on the table. To elaborate, if friends will have different interests, the group will benefit from a wide variety of through. Not only will they get greater number of choices but will also have higher chances of select the correct one. To exemplify, because my sister have some friends from different countries, they have diverse opinions when it comes to cuisines. As a result, she has tried a variety of food unlike me who mostly eat Indian food.
To recapitulate, this essay has discussed the reason such as less conflicts among friends for having friend with similar opinions whereas also given reason like having a variety of choices in favour of those wholesome think that friends should disagree sometimes. In my opinion, we should have friends who sometimes disagree with our opinions and thoughts as this gives us a chance to rethink and make better decisions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the restaurant choice for similar opinions and the culinary diversity for differing opinions. However, the development is somewhat basic. The argument for the first viewpoint is slightly repetitive, and the explanation of the second viewpoint could be more nuanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that the implications of these social dynamics are explored with greater depth rather than just listing surface-level benefits.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence with', 'On the contrary', and 'To recapitulate', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'wholesome think that'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints, which helps the overall structure remain clear and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'vibrant and lively environment' and 'diverse opinions'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'some people content' (contend) and 'wide variety of through' (thought/ideas). The range is sufficient for the task but lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Improving collocation and word forms would significantly enhance this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'my sister have' (has) and 'they not feel' (do not feel), as well as awkward phrasing like 'open allow a friend circle'. Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction could be more varied and accurate. The errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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