Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-07

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)

Through different forms of print and digital media, we come across reports that, 'having a friend who helps us in good time as well as in bad time are the real friends'. I personally belive getting an opinion, no matter in your favor or not. We should respect that, the reason behind that is the person is investing time for you. After reviewing both the situation I would like to be neutral.

Starting with the first point, if he/she is your bestfriend then definetly there will be a mutual decision. By saying this, I meant a friend will alway show the same intrest what you are showing. So, having a mutual connection friend will always support you, motivate you amd take care of you. There is a famous quote for this kind of friendship, 'A friend in need is a friend in deed'.

We can't forget about the second point, if it's your true bonding friend, they will see what is correct and what is wrong then they will take decision. Some belive that if a friend is going wrong with his decision, we should not support them and give some other reason what he can do in this situation.

A recent article mentioned, a person from calgary was worried about his life regarding his girlfriend and job. He was not able to focus on both together. He was asking for his suggesion to his 2 friend what will be the best thing I can do in this situation. Being a group of 3 people, they all were having different decision. 2 of those were thinking, leave your job and go with your girlfriend, The other guy said, leaving your job will make you unemployed, the best you can do is take a transfer from this job to nearby that location. It will take time but it will be good for you.

To conclude, down the lane, beliving in your friends decision is good but if it would be for being a good person in front of him is not good. So, take the decision after knowing the best possible outcome.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views: the second paragraph presents the value of friends who share and support your choices, while the later paragraphs explain how a friend may disagree when a decision seems unwise. The Calgary example gives the latter view a relevant illustration. However, the opening says you will be “neutral,” and the conclusion does not clearly resolve which view you consider more beneficial; “take the decision after knowing the best possible outcome” is also difficult to interpret. Several points remain general, especially the claim that a best friend will “always show the same interest.” State a clear, consistent opinion and explain more fully when agreement helps and when disagreement is valuable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate paragraphs for the introduction, each view, an example, and the conclusion, so the reader can identify its broad structure. Some linking phrases, such as “Starting with the first point” and “To conclude,” also signal stages in the discussion. However, progression between ideas is not always clear: “After reviewing both the situation I would like to be neutral” does not establish how the essay will compare the views, and the Calgary example arrives without a clear link to the preceding paragraph. References such as “this situation” and “the second point” are sometimes vague. Use topic sentences that state each paragraph’s main claim, then connect the example explicitly to your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to friendship and decision-making, including “mutual connection,” “motivate,” “support,” and “transfer,” and the example communicates a practical dilemma. However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, which can make the intended meaning less clear. For instance, “mutual decision” and “mutual connection friend” do not naturally express having similar opinions, while “true bonding friend” is unclear. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “belive,” “definetly,” “intrest,” and “suggesion.” Build a more precise set of phrases for agreement and disagreement, and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including conditional structures such as “if a friend is going wrong with his decision” and the longer Calgary example. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some passages difficult to follow. For example, “having a friend … are the real friends” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “He was asking for his suggesion to his 2 friend” has an unclear sentence structure and number agreement. The conclusion, “if it would be for being a good person in front of him,” is also difficult to parse. Practise building accurate clauses with clear subjects and verbs, and check agreement, articles, and punctuation.

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