Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-14

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)

It is very important to choose friends wisely. While some people contend that it is better to choose friends who form the same opinion to ours, others dispute this idea. This essay will discuss both views in detail and argue that it is essential to have friends whose opinions align with us.

Proponents of the idea that having friends who disagree with our opinions argue that such a friednship instills the spirit of tolerance in us. Having someone who differs with our perspectives help us to respect the differences of opinion. To illustrate, in professional settings the tolerance to value another person's differing opinion is important for fostering a healthy professional environment, where everyone knows that their opinion will be valued and respected, even if it differs from their seniors. Sometiems a friend who differs with our opinions help us to provide guidance and give us an other positive perpective to approach matters in our life.

The people who support the idea of having friends who form similar opinions to us contend that having similarity in thoughts and opinions is very important for the development of understanding in a relationship. For instance, I had a friend who considered it right to cheat in exams so that she can score good marks. However, I thought it was wrong, as this could lead to serious legal consequences if someone gets caught. This point of contention eventually led to a huge quarrel between us, and after that we barely spoke to each other. Moreoever, friends who have the similar definition of enjoyment tend to enjoy each other's company and are likely to share many memorable moments of life together. So, I firmly assert that it is a lot better to choose friends who have similar opinions to ours so that we can lead a joyful life.

In conclusion, I reaffirm my conviction of choosing friends who share our opinions on different pesrpectives, in order to have better understanding and a cordial friendship.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and state a clear position in favour of friends with similar opinions, maintaining it in the introduction and conclusion. The discussion of disagreement includes relevant points about tolerance and gaining another perspective, while the personal example of a quarrel over cheating illustrates how conflicting values can strain a friendship. This meets the task well, but the two sides are not developed equally: the benefits of disagreement are explained mainly in general terms, and the professional-setting example is not clearly connected to friendship. To strengthen the response, explain more fully when disagreement can improve a friendship, then qualify your own view—for example, distinguish core values from everyday preferences. This would make the reasoning more balanced and fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion that restates your position. Signposting such as “Proponents” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion, and the example about cheating is placed appropriately within the argument for similar opinions. However, some links are mechanical, and the progression within the first body paragraph is not fully smooth: the move from tolerance in professional settings to a friend offering guidance needs a clearer connection. Phrases such as “this idea” and “this point of contention” are understandable, but more precise referencing would improve flow. Use transitions that show the relationship between each claim and example, rather than relying mainly on formulaic paragraph openings.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “tolerance,” “differing opinion,” “contention,” and “cordial friendship.” These choices show an attempt to use less common language, and the meaning is generally clear. However, some collocations and word choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “form the same opinion to ours,” “differs with our perspectives,” and “the similar definition of enjoyment.” There are also spelling errors, including “friednship,” “Sometiems,” “Moreoever,” and “pesrpectives.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and control. Prefer natural combinations such as “share our opinions,” “disagree with our views,” and “have similar ideas about how to enjoy themselves,” and proofread carefully for spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession in the opening (“While some people contend…”) and a relative clause in the example about a friend who considered cheating acceptable. Most sentences communicate their meaning, and the range is sufficient to express comparisons and reasons. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with subject–verb agreement and sentence patterns: “Having someone who differs with our perspectives help us” should use “helps,” and “a friend who differs with our opinions help us” should also use “helps.” In “so that she can score,” the tense could be made consistent with the past narrative (“could score”). Review agreement after singular subjects and maintain consistent tense when recounting past events. These corrections would make the complex sentences more controlled.

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