Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-17
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)
There is an ongoing debate about whether everyone should choose their friends who have same opinion as them or whether it's best to have those friends who have different opinions. However, I believe that we should make those friends with a different sense of humor from us because as this helps in creating freindship stronger and interesting.
On the one hand, supporters believe that everyone should make friends with same sense of humor like them. If a two friends will share same opinion, they can understand each other very well. They may not only make relation stronger but also can creates a exciting friendship. Same Agreement facilitates them to choose same option including from career level to basic things such as choosing a particular destination for visiting. For instance, those friends who have a same identical thinking are more likely to share their feelings with each other.
On the other hand, some opponents believe that an individual should make best friends who sometimes disagree with them because this type of friendship guide each other in the right direction. Many people choose their wrong path, their friends can suggest them other ideas instead of supporting them. for instance, a
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 198 words long. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address both sides of the argument and provide a personal opinion, the second body paragraph is incomplete and ends abruptly mid-sentence. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed, and the development of arguments is severely limited. To improve, you must ensure you complete all sections of the essay and provide sufficient supporting evidence for each point to meet the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal the structure. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the final paragraph. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending makes the overall flow disjointed. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that ideas are linked more fluidly throughout the text, rather than relying on simple, repetitive transition phrases.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple phrasing such as 'make friends' and 'same opinion'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'make relation stronger' instead of 'strengthen the relationship'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to social dynamics and interpersonal relationships, while ensuring accurate usage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'If a two friends will share' (incorrect article and tense) and 'can creates a exciting friendship' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the incomplete sentence at the end. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed without errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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