Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19

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)

One can say it is better to have friends that share the same views whereas the other may say otherwise.

For some people having friends with whom they share similar opinions carries a lot more than just the shared opinions but it comes along with values and interests. In this case, bonding and openness to each other is made easy for some individuals. One may easily find it precise to open and share their thoughts without holding back knowing that their counterpart holds a similar notion about it. Hence making it easier for communication since both parties hold a similar opinion over something.

On the other hand, one may prefer to have friends who oppose their opinions for a couple of reason. First, for correction in cases where they need to be rectified in the ideas they hold. Second, might be to understand in comparison to what others have to say about certain ideas. Finally some people like to argue or contend ideas for purposes of proving knowledge on certain ideas.

Furthermore, in my opinion i would prefer having both because have a compass of friends who hold different ideas help build to what i already know and for those with whom i share the same perspectives create an environment that makes it easier for me to open up about certain issues.

However this may all depend on ones upbring or environment they live or work. For example my lawyer friend would prefer to have friends with whom they share different opinions on certain cases so us to expound on their arguments and knowledge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the points regarding why people prefer friends with opposing views are listed briefly without sufficient elaboration or concrete examples to support the claims. The example provided at the end regarding a lawyer friend is a good start but remains underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your reasoning by explaining the 'why' and 'how' behind your points more thoroughly, ensuring that each paragraph provides a fully developed argument rather than a list of brief reasons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'First', 'Second', and 'Finally' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, some transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the flow of the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure would benefit from more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the ideas within and between paragraphs more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'rectified', 'contend', and 'perspectives'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'carries a lot more than just the shared opinions' or 'build to what i already know'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of vocabulary to express complex ideas. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more academic or formal synonyms where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'ones upbring' (upbringing), 'so us to' (so as to), and 'have a compass of friends' (which is an awkward phrasing). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization errors, such as the lowercase 'i'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor slips would help improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.