Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-01

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)

A debate over choosing friends with the similar opinions or different perspectives is escalating among youth. This essay will discuss both of the views and will provide personal opinion in the sequence of paragraphs.

To begin with, choosing friends with similar perspectives is surging among young people because similar mental abilities and thoughts increase the sense of belonging. It becomes easier for young people with similar mindsets to get along. Moreover, people feel more secure with secrets with like-minded people as they offer sense of security. An another aspect of this could be achieving success. Working or spending more time with the people having similar views and opinions help them grow. For instance, a case study was done among two groups with similar and different abilities, has observed one group with similar opinions completed tasks much more efficiently than the others. Therefore, people with peers of similar mindsets are more likely to succeed in their lives.

On the other hand, making friends with different opinions also have positive results. The first and foremost reason is that people learn to accept the opposite reactions. With the like-minded people, it often becomes struggling to handle 'no' while with the people having friends with different opinions learn to respect decisions and opinions. Additionally, people with opposite opinions learn to see the other side of the coin. It becomes easier for them to view things from different directions and take decisions accordingly which help them excel in their lives. Hence, respecting and accepting different opinions becomes easier for peers with different viewpoints.

To recapitulate, a balanced approach should be maintained while choosing friends. In my perspective, a balance should be created while making friends as like-minded people will ensure safety and happiness while people with different mindsets will boost personality.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically extended, such as the discussion on 'sense of belonging' for like-minded friends and 'learning to accept opposite reactions' for those with differing views. However, the development of the case study example is slightly vague and lacks specific detail, which prevents it from being fully persuasive. To reach a higher band, ensure that examples are more concrete and directly linked to the core argument. Overall, the position is consistent throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'To recapitulate', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is even more seamless by focusing on the relationship between sentences rather than just using transition words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'escalating', 'like-minded', 'efficiently', and 'recapitulate'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'feeling more secure with secrets' (which is slightly awkward) and 'it often becomes struggling' (which should be 'a struggle'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some phrasing remains slightly repetitive or imprecise. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more natural collocations and precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'choosing friends with the similar opinions' (article error), 'an another aspect' (redundant article), and 'with the people having friends with different opinions learn' (subject-verb agreement/missing subject). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help you move toward a higher band.

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