Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-14

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)

People believe it's better to choose acquaintances who always share the same opinion as yours, whereas other people think that it's good to have friends who sometimes disagree with you. Friends who share same opinions develop closer bonds naturally and have no arguments. On the other hand, friends who sometimes disagree on various matters with each other explore different realities and ideas. Their bonds are developed with efforts and understanding. This essay will discuss both sides of the coin.

To begin with, friends who have the same choices and ideas share unbreakable bonds as there is no room for arguments and disagreements. Additionally, their paths in life such as careers and personal choices are also aligned and they survive as a team through thick and thin. They never question each other's choices as they believe in them from within. Studies have shown that friends who have same taste in shopping and career stay friends longer than those who have different opinions. They never risk their friendships and live in peace.

On the other hand, friends who have disagreements with each other do argue but their relationships are build with constant sincere efforts. The difference of opinions inculcate feelings of tolerance, acceptance and understanding in them. Moreover, they constantly learn from each other as they explore other ideas and aspects of the world. Psychologists say that it is better to have a friend who does not agree with you all the time as they are more genuine. A lot of youngsters never disagree with their friends because they fear that others may break ties with them. However, the fear of loneliness should never stop you from sharing what is in your heart.

In a nutshell, people should choose friends who are real and trustworthy. If one truly believes in something and their friend is on the same page then it's a blessing. However, if your friend disagrees with you, then it doesn't mean that you should go your separate ways. Rather, try to listen and understand with an open mind and heart. Having friends with difference of opinions can open doors of other aspects that can influence decision-making abilities in life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the discussion on tolerance and personal growth when dealing with differing opinions. However, some arguments, particularly the claim that friends with similar opinions 'survive as a team through thick and thin,' are slightly over-generalized. The essay maintains a consistent position throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments while offering a balanced perspective. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, concrete examples rather than relying on general statements about 'studies' or 'psychologists'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In a nutshell' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there is some minor mechanical use of transitions, and the referencing could be more varied. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints, which helps the reader navigate the argument. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the development of the topic.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses some good collocations like 'unbreakable bonds,' 'constant sincere efforts,' and 'decision-making abilities.' There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'relationships are build' (should be 'built') and 'inculcate feelings' (which is slightly misused in this context). While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band score. The vocabulary is generally precise enough to avoid ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'If one truly believes in something and their friend is on the same page then it's a blessing.' However, there are persistent minor errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('relationships are build') and occasional missing articles or pluralization errors ('difference of opinions' should be 'differences of opinion'). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The control of grammar is sufficient for a solid band 6.5.

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

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