Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-13

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)

​While some individuals prefer surrounding themselves with peers who share identical views to ensure harmony, others argue that maintaining friendships with those who challenge their perspectives fosters personal growth. Although like-minded companions provide emotional comfort, I believe thats friends who occasionally disagree offer far greater value by encouraging critical thinking and self-awareness. i both have friends like this. sometimes is okay but sometimes it is irritating me for some reasons because some of my friend counter my decision not because he has a point but because he wants me to angry because every time when i was angry im not talking to people. i shut my mouth and he said that its fun to see ke angry. The others is every time i have an idea he always said. yeah that is right, its amazing indea. i trusted you for that. thats friend is go with the flow. it is amazing to have friends like this. ​"Whether mutual agreement is the bedrock of a solid friendship or whether constructive disagreement is essential for meaningful connections remains a subject of debate. While unanimous opinions undoubtedly prevent friction, I side with the perspective that friends who voice differing viewpoints are indispensable for intellectual development and personal maturity."

It is often debated whether it is preferable to form friendships with people who hold similar opinions or with those who occasionally express contrasting viewpoints. In my view, while having identical perspectives minimizes interpersonal conflict, having friends with opposing viewpoints is more beneficial because it broadens one’s horizon

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You introduce both views and state a clear preference for friends who disagree, explaining that they can encourage “critical thinking and self-awareness.” The personal examples also begin to show the contrast between a friend who challenges you and one who agrees with everything. However, the response only partially develops the task: the example of a friend who disagrees is mainly described as irritating and deliberately provocative, rather than showing how constructive disagreement can be valuable. The benefits of the agreeable friend are asserted but not explored, and the final paragraph repeats your position without adding supporting reasons. Develop each view with a specific explanation or example, and make your own opinion consistent and explicit throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is an identifiable contrast between friends who disagree and friends who agree, and the opening and closing paragraphs both express your preference. However, the ideas are not arranged into a clear, sustained progression. The personal account appears as a long, unstructured section, followed by a separate, polished paragraph that restates the debate rather than advancing it. Connections such as “sometimes” and “the others” do not clearly guide the reader through the comparison, and the abrupt shift in style makes the response feel disconnected. Organise the essay into distinct paragraphs for the two views and your opinion, and use clear linking phrases to show how each example supports the point.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You show an adequate range, particularly in phrases such as “identical views,” “fosters personal growth,” “constructive disagreement,” and “intellectual development.” These expressions suit the topic and show an attempt to use more precise, less common vocabulary. Some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “broaden one’s horizon” needs a plural form, “go with the flow” is informal and does not precisely describe a friend who always agrees, and “counter my decision” is not the most natural way to express disagreement. There are also spelling errors such as “indea” and “ke.” Aim for consistent, accurate phrasing and choose vocabulary that conveys whether disagreement is constructive or merely provocative.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a range of structures, including a concessive opening (“Although like-minded companions provide emotional comfort…”) and a complex sentence beginning “While unanimous opinions…”. However, many sentences in the personal example contain errors that make the meaning harder to follow. For instance, “sometimes is okay” lacks a clear subject, “it is irritating me” uses an incorrect verb pattern, and “every time when i was angry im not talking” mixes tense and sentence structure. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, especially in the long run-on passage. Practise forming complete sentences with consistent subjects and verb tenses, and check each sentence for a clear main clause before adding further detail.

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