Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-20

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 5.5)

Friends play an important role in every individuals life. Some people believe that we should choose friends according to our same mental level while other argue that we should make friends who are opposite to us.I will discuss both the opinion in upcoming paragraphs. I reckon that friends with the same mental level are the best.

To begin with, It is good to have a friend with same opinion. To explain it, friends with same mental order seems to be like a family member. They are the one with whom we can freely share our secrets because they will never spill the beans in front of anyone. They know our strengths and weakness. In additon, if we ever feel low, they can figure it out from our face. For example, a research shows that friends with same behaviour seems more happier than others.

On the flip side, Friends with opposite opinion have a lot of benefits. To illustrate it, if we find a friend who have different opinio. He/she will teach us some important tips such as, if one student is week in maths, the friend of him, he might be an intelligent and can teach him even better than teacher. Moreover, they can share their knowledge with each other.

In my opinion, friends with same mental order is the best because it will help us to stay relax and more happy. we really enjoy their company.

To conclude, I think it depend on the personal choice. However, both have their own pros in our life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the question and state a clear preference: “friends with the same mental level are the best.” The first body paragraph gives relevant reasons, such as trust and noticing when someone feels low, while the second offers a useful example of friends sharing academic knowledge. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the benefits of disagreement are mostly reduced to tutoring, and the claim that similar friends are “more happy” is supported by a vague reference to research rather than a specific explanation or example. Your conclusion also shifts towards saying it is a personal choice without reconciling that with your stated preference. Develop each view more fully and make your final position consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, your opinion, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “To begin with,” “On the flip side,” and “To conclude” helps readers follow the main stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes abrupt, and some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “if we find a friend who have different opinio” does not lead smoothly into the maths example, and the final paragraph repeats your preference before the conclusion introduces a broader, less decisive view. Use clearer links between claims and examples, and make pronouns and references explicit so readers can easily identify who “they” or “him” refers to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant expressions, including “spill the beans,” “strengths and weakness,” and “share their knowledge,” which help communicate ideas about trust and friendship. However, the range is limited and several repeated or imprecise phrases make the argument less natural. “Same mental level” and “same mental order” do not clearly express having similar opinions, while “opposite opinion” is awkward when referring to friends who disagree. There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as “additon,” “opinio,” and “week” for “weak.” Aim for precise topic vocabulary and check spelling and collocations; this will make your meaning clearer and reduce repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a reason clause beginning “because” and a conditional example beginning “if.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “every individuals life” and “other argue,” where possessive and subject–verb forms are incorrect, and “friends with same mental order is,” where agreement is faulty. The sentence about the student who is weak in maths is especially difficult to parse because its clauses and pronouns are not controlled. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, as in “It” and “Friends” after a full stop. Practise accurate agreement and build complex sentences with one clear main clause.

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.