Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-23

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)

People have different opinions about whether friends should always agree with each other or whether it is better to have friends who sometimes disagree. While having similar opinions can make friendships easier, I believe that occasional disagreement is important because it helps people learn and develop.

On the one hand, having friends with similar opinions can make relationships more comfortable. When people have the same interests, values and ways of thinking, they are less likely to argue. They can easily enjoy activities together and support each other’s decisions. For example, two friends who both enjoy playing sports may find it easier to spend their free time together. Moreover, during difficult situations, having someone who understands and agrees with you can provide emotional support.

On the other hand, friends who disagree with us can help us see things from a different perspective. If everyone around us always agrees with our opinions, we may never notice our own mistakes. A good friend can politely point out a problem and encourage us to think more carefully. For instance, if someone is making a poor career decision, a friend with a different opinion may give useful advice and help them consider alternatives that they had not thought about.

In my opinion, the best friendships involve a balance between agreement and disagreement. Friends do not need to have completely different views, but they should feel comfortable expressing their opinions honestly. What matters most is that disagreements are respectful and do not damage the relationship.

In conclusion, having similar opinions can make friendships comfortable and enjoyable, but occasional disagreement can provide valuable advice and new perspectives. Therefore, I believe that friends should be able to disagree respectfully while still supporting each other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task thoroughly, discussing both views regarding whether friends should have the same opinions or disagree, while providing a clear personal opinion. The position is well-maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the example of friends playing sports together or someone making a poor career decision. The arguments are logical and well-developed, showing a thorough understanding of the prompt. The response meets all the requirements of the task effectively, earning a solid band score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs exploring each view, a discussion of the author's nuanced opinion, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to group related ideas together, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of arguments from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision in discussing social relationships and opinions. Phrases such as 'provide emotional support', 'different perspective', 'respectful', and 'valuable advice' are used accurately. There are also attempts at less common lexical items, such as 'alternative' and 'disagreements'. Word choice and collocations are generally natural, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. The vocabulary fully supports the communication of ideas without causing any difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional structures and relative clauses (e.g., 'If everyone around us always agrees with our opinions, we may never notice our own mistakes'). There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. While the structures tend towards standard complexity rather than exceptionally wide-ranging syntactic variety, the high level of accuracy and clear control over clauses elevate the grammatical performance.

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