Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with. Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

Same questionCompare 4 different answers (Band 5.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Some people always yearn for new experiences in life and are never afraid to try new things. Others, on the contrary, are happy doing the same thing and living in the same place throughout their livesall through their life primarily because they do not like changechanges. This essay will discuss both these attitudes. Personally, I believe that people who embrace changechanges and dare to try new things live life to the fullest.

2

Many people are just happy doing the same activities repeatedlythe same thing over and over again and sticking to familiar activitiestrying the things they are already familiar with. This approach involves fewer risks but often lacks major rewards and varied life experiencesbig rewards and experience in life. Due to this mentality, many people are not interested in moving to a different city or trying a new career path despite their potential to do something greatergreater and bigger. Interestingly, many people who are afraid to take risks or try new things often claim that this gives them a less complicated lifeclaim to live a less complicated life.

3

By contrast, peopleOn the contrary, people who try new things are often risk-takers and adventurersrisk-takers and adventure seekers. They believe that life is a constant journey, and they often have an unquenchable desirethirst to visit as many places as they can, try as many dishes as they come across, take part in a range of adventurous activitiesnumerous adventurous activities and try different career paths in their life. Such people take risks in their personal and professional liveslife. This is why they are either hugely successful or live a nomadic life. For instance, one of my university friends started travelling while others were busywhen the others were busy looking for a job. Due to this, he was struggling financially while others were financially secure in their jobsstable in their jobs and earnings. However, ten years after our graduation, this friend, who is also a famous travel blogger on YouTube and an investigative journalist, earns at least ten times as much10 times more than any of us. This success is not always assured but comes to those who embrace a non-traditional lifestyleembrace non-traditional life and try new things.

4

To conclude, doing the same things and living in the same place come with little risk, but lack adventure and tremendous rewards. By contrastContrary to this, taking on challengestaking challenges and embracing new things come with enormous risks but the rewards are also huge.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The essay clearly discusses both attitudes and maintains a consistent preference for embracing change, contrasting security and simplicity with adventure, risk, and possible reward. Its strongest feature is the extended travel-blogger example, which illustrates both the short-term cost and long-term potential of experimentation. The main limitation is that the familiar-routine view is less fully developed and several claims are overly absolute; prioritise a more balanced explanation of stability before qualifying the benefits of novelty.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

7.5
Scoring rule

Both attitudes and the writer’s opinion are clearly addressed, with a strong example for novelty, though the familiar approach receives less nuanced development.

Next step

Explain positive reasons for preferring familiarity, such as financial security, expertise, routine, or family responsibilities, before weighing them against exploration.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

8.0
Scoring rule

The essay progresses smoothly through the two attitudes to a comparative conclusion, and the extended example is integrated effectively into the second view.

Next step

Use a more precise contrast than On the contrary and make the conclusion explicitly restate the writer’s preference, not only compare risks and rewards.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.5
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is flexible and engaging, including yearn, risk-takers, unquenchable thirst, nomadic, non-traditional, and live life to the fullest, with occasional imprecision.

Next step

Use embrace change, gain valuable experience, pursue a career, accept challenges, and substantial rewards while reducing repeated try new things.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.5
Scoring rule

A broad range of complex forms is generally accurate, though occasional agreement, number, article, and collocation errors remain.

Next step

Correct forms such as throughout their lives, fewer rewards and experiences, personal and professional lives, taking on challenges, and comes with little risk.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people like to try new things, for example, places to visit and types of food. Other people prefer to keep doing things they are familiar with. Discuss both these attitudes and give your own opinion.

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