Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-27
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)
There is an ongoing debate regarding whether we should have friends who always agree with us or those who at times disagree with us. While some people argue that we should have friends that are always on our side, others believe that it is good to have friends who occationally has different opinion. This essay will examine both perspectives before explaining why I believe that we should have friends with different opinion.
On the one hand, supporters of the opinion that we should have friends with same prespective argue that it creates harmony and lasting friendship. The main reason for this is that they never disagree or fight over different point of view. For instance, if one friend has a opinion that drinking is normal and all friends are in favor there will be no discuss or debate over it. Consequently, everyone will drink and stay together as everyone wishes and thinks the same thing. From this perspective, it is better to have friends with same opinion.
On the other hand, those who support the view that having friends with different perspective is better argue that this kind of friendship has honesty and encorages each other to be a better person. For example, when a friend is giving up in life or making a wrong choice other friends encorage and share their opinion which as a result, guides the person towards achieving great things is life. In my view, this argument is more convincing because it focuses on human pschology of having different view point and addresses the life in its purest form.
In conclusion, both side that is having friends with same opinion and having friends with different opinion has valid arguments. However, I believe that we should have friends that disagree with us when it is needed, primarily because it makes us a better person and reach our full potential.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though the development is somewhat basic. For instance, the argument regarding 'drinking' as an example of harmony is a bit simplistic and does not fully explore the nuances of the topic. While the position is clear throughout, the supporting arguments could be more thoroughly extended to reach a higher band. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reiterates the writer's stance, ensuring the task requirements are met.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader through the arguments. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and flow. For example, the transition between the discussion of honesty and the personal opinion in the third paragraph is slightly abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and each paragraph has a clear central topic.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'perspective' and 'psychology', but there are also recurring spelling errors like 'occationally', 'prespective', 'encorage', and 'pschology'. Additionally, some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'discuss' used as a noun instead of 'discussion'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more attention to spelling and word formation to reach a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'friends who... has different opinion') and article usage (e.g., 'has a opinion'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are missing commas in complex sentences that would improve readability. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not significantly impede the reader's understanding of the arguments presented.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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