Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-25

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 5.0)

Some people believe that it is better to choose friends who always think in the same way like them while other think it is good to have friends who sometimes against them. I strongly believe that both views has its own benefits because choosing a partner who always goes in the same direction in terms of thinking has its own benefits because you will always understand each other and no form of argument will happen between then, however having a friend who always disagrees with your opinion might sometimes cause issues resulting in both parties separation as a result of lack

In 2013, a research was conducted among friends of different peer group 90% agree with having friends with same opinion is good one by given me an instance whereby there are two friends going to a river, the first person said let us follow the right path, the second choose the left, without any misunderstanding the second friend agrees to follow the right path which saved both friends from danger that happened at the left, because none of them disagree, they both look at it in the same way

The second research was between two friends who always disagree with each other opinion. For example

One day my dad sent my friend and I to a market, on our way back home we discovered that there was an old woman sitting under the tree who looked unkept

I told my friend let’s help this old woman but she disagree not knowing that that old woman was her grandmother. Assuming she is a type of friend that agrees with me it will have been a joyful moment after the discovery

In conclusion choosing a friend is that both agrees with each other opinion is beneficial than being disagree .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both views, but the development of ideas is inconsistent and often confusing. The arguments provided, such as the anecdote about the river and the grandmother, are anecdotal and lack the analytical depth required for a high score. The position is stated in the introduction but becomes muddled in the conclusion, where the writer seems to contradict the initial balanced approach. The ideas are under-developed, and the connection between the examples and the prompt is tenuous, making it difficult for the reader to follow the logic of the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas, making the flow feel disjointed. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. Referencing is often unclear, particularly in the second body paragraph where the narrative shifts confusingly. The conclusion is very brief and does not effectively summarize the preceding points or provide a clear final stance, which impacts the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. The writer relies on basic phrasing such as 'always think in the same way' and 'always disagree with each other opinion'. There are several instances of awkward word choices and incorrect collocations, such as 'against them' instead of 'disagree with them' and 'unkept' instead of 'unkempt'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas, and the errors in word formation and usage occasionally impede the reader's understanding of the intended meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that affect clarity. There are persistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'both views has its own benefits'), sentence fragments, and incorrect verb tenses. The sentence structures are predominantly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and run-on sentences that make the text difficult to parse. While the meaning is generally discernible, the high frequency of errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band score.

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.