Should Friends Lend Each Other Money or Valuable Items?
A complete IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 question with a model answer of 310 words, plus a breakdown of the sentence structures, cohesive devices and vocabulary that answer uses. Write your own version first, then compare.
Written by Manish Sharma · CELTA and DELTA qualified · 8 years teaching IELTS
Score my answer to this questionThe question
You have 40 minutes. Write at least 250 words.
Some people believe that friends should freely lend each other money or valuable items when asked, while others think this puts friendships at serious risk. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- 01Address BOTH views with comparable depth before stating your own opinion
- 02Use concrete examples — rent, tools, cars, sentimental items — rather than vague references to 'things'
- 03Distinguish between small everyday loans and large or irreplaceable items in your reasoning
- 04Hedge confidently with 'generally', 'in most cases', 'as long as'
- 05Reference at least one cultural or social context to add breadth
- 06End with a conclusion that reinforces your specific position, not just a summary
Model answer
310 words in 5 paragraphs. Read it after you have written your own, not before: the point of a model answer is to show you what you missed, and you cannot miss anything you have not attempted.
Few situations test a friendship as quickly as a request for money or the loan of a valuable possession. Some people see willingness to lend as the natural expression of trust between friends, while others believe such transactions are best avoided altogether. In my view, both perspectives carry weight, but small loans between close friends are generally safe as long as clear expectations are set in advance.
Those who support lending freely argue that real friendship should mean unconditional support in times of need. If someone is struggling to pay rent or genuinely needs a tool, camera, or car for a short period, a friend who can help and refuses comes across as cold or transactional. Lending in this view is not a financial decision but a moral one; it strengthens bonds and signals that the relationship matters more than the asset. Many cultures, particularly those with strong family and community traditions, take this generosity for granted.
On the other hand, sceptics point out that money and possessions are among the most common causes of conflict between friends. If a borrower repays late, damages an item, or denies the loan ever existed, the resulting resentment can poison years of friendship. Even when nothing goes wrong, the lender may quietly track the debt and the borrower may feel an ongoing sense of obligation, both of which alter the easy equality that defines true friendship.
In my opinion, the safest approach is to lend only what you can afford to lose, and to be explicit about repayment terms or replacement responsibilities from the outset. Small amounts between close, trusted friends rarely cause lasting harm, but large sums or irreplaceable items should be handled through formal channels such as banks or rental services.
In conclusion, while generosity between friends is admirable, clear boundaries are what actually protect the relationship in the long run.
What this answer actually does
Measured from the text above, and compared against the other 69 answers of the same type in this library. These are counts, not band scores: they describe what the writing does, which is the part you can copy.
19 more than the median answer for this task type
15 words at the shortest, 33 at the longest
the same as the median answer for this task type
carry a subordinate or relative clause
Sentence rhythm
Sentences average 23.8 words and vary by 5.4 words either side of that, running from 15 words to 33. Variation is the point. Grammatical Range and Accuracy rewards a mix of simple and complex sentences, and an answer where every sentence is the same length reads as flat no matter how correct it is. 9 of the 13 sentences here carry a subordinate or relative clause.
The cohesive devices it uses
6 in total, spread across 4 different functions. Range matters more than count: an answer that opens every paragraph with a sequencer signals its structure but never signals a relationship between ideas, and Coherence and Cohesion is marked on both.
on the other hand, while
such as
in conclusion
granted
Vocabulary and repetition
Ignoring grammar words, 85 per cent of the content words in this answer are distinct, and 74 per cent appear exactly once. Lexical Resource is where repetition costs the most marks, and the usual cause is not a small vocabulary but reaching for the same noun every time the topic is named.
The longest run of words copied straight from the question is 2 words. Examiners discount wording lifted from the question, so a short run here is the right outcome: the answer restates the topic in its own words rather than borrowing the question's.
What you are marked on
All four criteria carry equal weight, and your Writing band is their average rounded to the nearest half band.
Task Response
Discuss both views thoroughly and present a clear personal position, supported by reasons and examples.
Coherence & Cohesion
Use a logical four-paragraph structure with smooth transitions between views and your own opinion.
Lexical Resource
Use precise vocabulary for friendship, money, obligation, and reparation, with appropriate hedging.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
Use a range of complex structures including conditionals, concessive clauses, and modal hedging.
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