Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-27

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)

Whether it's having similar opinions or different, each has own set of advantages and disadvantages which will be addressed below.

It's better to choose friends who always have the same opinions as you so that disagreements are less frequent. For instance, if a few friends were deciding which place to visit during their holidays, it would be more simple if everyone agreed on the same place. In that way no one feels as if their idea was not chosen. Being in agreement reduces conflict amongst friends since they accept the same ideas and opinion. No one would feel left out cause they share similar viewpoints.

On the other hand having friends who sometimes disagree is also a good thing. For example, if a group of friends are working on a school assignment together and they were required to generate ideas for this project, it would not help if everyone could only come up with one idea. By having different ideas and opinions, a list of ideas can be compiled, leading to a more unique assignment. Having different ideas is important for getting a sense of other peoples ideology It also makes people be open minded to accepting different viewpoints. The world would be very boring and lack different opinions if everyone had similar thought processes.

To conclude, I believe it does not matter how your opinions are with your friends, as long as there is understanding and acceptance. Opions can be in favour or opposing to that of your friend, but it's about how you deal with a particular situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and give a personal position: the first body paragraph explains how shared opinions may reduce conflict, while the second shows how disagreement can generate more ideas. The examples about choosing a holiday destination and completing a school assignment are relevant. However, the conclusion that it “does not matter” which opinions friends hold is not fully reconciled with the benefits you have just described, so your position could be clearer and more decisive. Some points, particularly how disagreement helps people become open-minded, need further explanation. The response is also 248 words, below the 250-word minimum; the 12 words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop your reasoning slightly further and state your view consistently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. “On the other hand” clearly signals the shift to the opposing view, and the examples generally follow the points they illustrate. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose: the second body paragraph moves from idea generation to ideology, open-mindedness, and a broad claim about the world without clearly connecting each step. Some linking is also mechanical, with repeated “For example” and “Having different ideas.” The final paragraph repeats the need for understanding and acceptance but does not clearly resolve the contrast between the two views. Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make the conclusion directly reflect your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to discuss friendship and disagreement, including “viewpoints,” “conflict,” “compiled,” and “open minded.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and the examples are easy to follow. However, some expressions are imprecise or awkward, such as “more simple,” “other peoples ideology,” and “similar thought processes.” There are also spelling and form errors, including “Opions,” which reduce accuracy. Repetition of “ideas” and “opinions” limits flexibility, especially in the second body paragraph. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated terms; for instance, describe how differing perspectives can broaden understanding rather than repeating “different ideas.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional example beginning “if a few friends were deciding” and a clause explaining that ideas can be compiled. Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. The opening sentence lacks a clear subject construction (“Whether it's having similar opinions or different”), and “each has own set” needs a possessive determiner. In “if a group of friends are working … and they were required,” the verb forms do not align clearly. The sentence beginning “Having different ideas is important” also runs into the next sentence without appropriate punctuation. Review sentence boundaries, agreement, and consistent verb forms, while continuing to use varied structures.

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