Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-21

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)

Friends are the second person in your life after your parents who guide you right and wrong. Few proportion believes that having same opinion like you , you should make them friends while other denied this statement they support to opposite. In this essay, I will elaborate my point why like-minded friends are more preferable than others.

To begin with, same minded friends are can under stand your situation, how you feel , how you think and give you better solutions to your problems. For instance, if you want to try some adventurous activities and you are scared then you get motivated by your friend who has the same interest. He or she does not encourage you to make you bold but also guide you how you can make true you interest. However, other friends who do not have same opinion they try to change your mind and put in your mind these are life risky games. As a result, you will never come out from your comfort level .

Another reason to support the first statement, the company of same taste peers, masses enjoy alot rather than others. Usually, if someone upset if do those activities in which they have interest with ones friend give them more pleasure. On the other side, his friend offers him other activity he has no mood, making him upset.

In conclusion, even though different opinion friends some time amaze you but they cannot understand your mind as much as same minded person can feel your situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that like-minded friends provide better solutions, the explanation remains superficial and relies on a single example of 'adventurous activities'. The counter-argument regarding friends with different opinions is under-developed, as you focus primarily on the negative aspect of them changing your mind rather than exploring the potential benefits of diverse perspectives. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more balanced and thorough exploration of the arguments, rather than focusing solely on one side's perceived superiority.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and limited use of cohesive devices. While you use transition words like 'To begin with' and 'In conclusion', the internal flow within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed. For instance, the transition between the idea of 'adventurous activities' and the conclusion of that paragraph is abrupt. Additionally, referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the company of same taste peers, masses enjoy alot'. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'same minded friends', 'make true you interest', and 'same taste peers'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly unclear. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more natural collocations and a wider range of vocabulary related to the topic of friendship and social dynamics. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for common words like 'good', 'bad', or 'like'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Few proportion believes'), missing articles, and incorrect preposition usage. For example, 'same minded friends are can under stand' contains a double verb error. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors limits the score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb forms, and proofreading for common slips in articles and prepositions.

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

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