Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-10

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 6.0)

A substantial proportion of the population beleives that the individuals having like minds can be close friends while the rest of the people think the opposite. The people having similar habits might be good friends but it is significant to have different suggestions from people for your personal growth.

A group of people with same likes and dislikes can be beneficial for a person to relax after a hectic day as all the collegues will be on the same page and there will be no arguements to ruin anyone's mood. In addition to this, they will resolve their issues quickly and conveniently as they think alike so that is why a few people prefers to make allies with like-mided people.

On the other hand, some people loves to take variety of suggestion from a diverse group so that they can select which advise is better for their future endeavours. Having a variety of options and opinions from individuals boosts up one's critical thinking skills and the person becomes creative with multiple points in mind. I will state a personal example here, when I completed my A-levels and was searching for a reputable university, most of my friends were suggesting me to go to the similar university as them but after talking to my other close batchmates, I chose to opt for a different university which boosted up my growth by 50%.

Many people think that having like minded friends are good but not always. I admit that people with different opinions and advises are essential for a person to flourish in life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and gives a clear personal position: you explain why like-minded friends can provide relaxation and avoid conflict, then argue that differing opinions support personal growth. The university example also makes your preference more concrete. This meets the task well, while showing some of the fuller development expected at the next level. However, the first view is explained mainly in terms of convenience, and the claim that choosing a different university “boosted up my growth by 50%” is not clarified or supported, so its significance is difficult to judge. Develop each side with a more specific explanation or example, and make the personal example’s outcome precise. The conclusion restates your view but could briefly synthesise why disagreement is valuable despite the benefits of shared opinions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a concluding statement. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “In addition to this” help readers follow the discussion. However, some linking is mechanical, and the opening sentence of the final paragraph repeats the contrast already established rather than drawing the argument together. The phrase “so that is why” also combines two cause-and-result signals unnecessarily. Referencing is occasionally unclear: “they” in the first body paragraph could refer to colleagues or people with similar preferences. Use a wider range of natural links, make pronoun references explicit, and ensure each paragraph advances the argument rather than repeating an earlier point.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “critical thinking skills,” “diverse group,” “reputable university,” and “personal growth.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and some less common expressions are attempted. However, several word-choice, collocation, and spelling errors reduce precision: “variety of suggestion” and “which advise is better” are not natural in this context, while “boosted up my growth by 50%” is vague and awkward. There are also spelling errors such as “beleives,” “collegues,” and “arguements.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and proofread carefully; for example, use “a range of suggestions,” “which advice would be most useful,” and a specific description of how the university helped you develop.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes both simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “as they think alike” and a conditional-style explanation of how differing opinions can help someone choose. Meaning is generally clear, and the errors do not usually prevent understanding. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain, particularly with subject–verb agreement and plural forms: “a few people prefers” should be “a few people prefer,” and “some people loves” should be “some people love.” The sentence beginning “A group of people with same likes and dislikes” also needs an article before “same,” and “having like minded friends are good” has a mismatch between the singular idea and plural verb. Review agreement, articles, and sentence punctuation, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.