Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-28

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)

It is often argued that it is beneficial to make friends having a same viewpoint while others believed that it is advantageous to have friends who may contradict with the opinions on some occassions. This essay will demonstrates the merits of both perspectives followed by few relevant illustrations.

To commence with, having a friends with same opinions may help to achieve and enjoy the educational success together. Having a friends with similar notions can work on same assigments by giving more emphasizes on related topics. As a result, they can achieve the desired goals in the academic success. For instance, by working on notes or presentations on similar subjects may help to taste the curriculum success. As a result, both friends can succeed in the academic results.

On the contrary, it is also significant to have the partners with opposite viewpoints. As contradictions in the opinions may help them to consider some alternative route instead of focusing on same viewpoints. For instance, by avoiding the opinion of the friend who thinks drugs does not have a detrimental effect on health. Consequently, this approach forced other friend not to opt the wrong company.

To conclude, by having a similar opinion friends can put more significance on same topic; however, oppositon opinion may help to select the right path according to the situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address both views: the first body paragraph links similar opinions to working together on assignments, while the second suggests that disagreement can help someone avoid a harmful choice. However, the discussion is only partially developed, and the examples are brief or unclear. The drugs example, in particular, does not fully explain how disagreement leads to a better decision. Your own position is also not clearly stated: the conclusion says both kinds of friendship can be useful, but does not directly explain which view you favour or under what circumstances. The response is 29 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop the ideas. State your opinion explicitly and extend each example with a clear explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Signposts such as “To commence with,” “On the contrary,” and “To conclude” help readers follow the shift between ideas. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and “As a result” is repeated in the first body paragraph without adding much progression. Some references are unclear, especially “this approach” and “the wrong company” in the example about drugs. The conclusion also repeats the two positions rather than bringing the discussion together with a definite judgement. Use linking phrases more selectively, and make the relationship between each example and its main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “viewpoint,” “alternative route,” “detrimental effect,” and “academic success,” showing an attempt to express ideas beyond basic everyday language. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations sound unnatural, such as “make friends having a same viewpoint,” “taste the curriculum success,” and “put more significance on same topic.” There are also spelling errors, including “occassions,” “assigments,” and “oppositon,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for natural combinations and precise wording rather than formal-sounding phrases that do not fit the meaning. For example, describe friends as “sharing similar views” and say that they “achieve academic goals together.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “while,” “as,” and “who,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, errors occur frequently in sentence structure and grammatical forms. Examples include “This essay will demonstrates,” where the verb form is incorrect, and “having a friends,” where the article and plural do not agree. The opening sentence also has a faulty construction, while “by avoiding the opinion …” is an incomplete or awkwardly formed example. Work on subject–verb agreement, articles, plural nouns, and complete sentence patterns. After drafting, check each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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