Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-17

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 where some individuals believe that it is better to choose friends who have a similar mindset like them while others believe that it is better to have friends with a different mindset. I think both the options have their pros and cons and ultimately it depends on what you are seeking from a friendship.

Firstly, there are a lot of advantages of friends who have same opinions, interests and hobbies. They could do a lot of activities together like watching movies, playing similar games or even discussing topics that are of interest to both. While there are many advantages, there are some disadvantages as well, having friends with similar thought process can sometimes become a bit monotonous as there is no one to challenge the ideas, which can prevent a person from expanding their horizon and experimenting with new things.

Whilst we have discussed advantages and disadvantages of having peers of similar mindset, it will be unfair to not discuss the same for friends with different thought process. The benefit of friends with different opinions is that they can bring more flavour to the friendship. It is possible that they would ask to watch a different movie than what a person would usually watch or they could take a person to a new restaurant which the person would never try on their own because it is a different cuisine. All this can help an individual grow as a person. There is also a possiblity of a bit of friction between such friends due to difference in opinion but as far as it is manageable, these kinds of friendships can help a person flourish.

In conclusion, there are pros and cons of both kinds of friendships and it ultimately depends on what the person is looking for in a friendship. In my opinion, it is important to have both types of friends so a person can experience the best of both worlds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—having friends with similar opinions and having friends with different opinions—and provides a clear personal position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported with simple examples, such as discussing movies, games, or trying new restaurants. However, the development of ideas tends to be slightly general and could be pushed further with more depth or specific personal anecdotes. For instance, the discussion on how different opinions help a person grow is introduced nicely but remains somewhat basic. Overall, the task is fulfilled competently, aligning well with the expectations for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical arrangement of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs discussing opposing views, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as 'Firstly', 'Whilst we have discussed', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the repeated phrasing around the pros and cons of friendships. Despite these minor limitations, the essay is easy to follow and demonstrates a coherent structure that satisfies the criteria for Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully communicating everyday concepts. Words and phrases like 'mindset', 'monotonous', 'cuisine', and 'flourish' show an attempt to use less common items. However, there are some minor word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as writing 'similar mindset like them' instead of 'similar mindset to theirs' or 'possiblity' with a spelling error. The vocabulary is generally functional and allows the message to come across clearly, but lacks the precision, sophistication, and natural flexibility required to reach the higher bands, comfortably landing at a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms throughout the response. Examples like 'While there are many advantages, there are some disadvantages as well, having friends with similar thought process can sometimes become a bit monotonous...' show attempts at subordination, though this particular sentence suffers from a comma splice. There are occasional grammatical errors and missing articles, such as 'thought process' needing to be plural or having a determiner, and 'possiblity'. Nevertheless, these errors rarely impede communication, and the majority of simple sentences are accurate. This performance fits the Band 6.0 profile well.

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

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