Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-12

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Nowadays many people complain that they have difficulties getting enough sleep. What problems can lack of sleep cause? What can be done about lack of sleep?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

People of all the age groups are facing lack in sleep in their life. there could be several reasons behind not getting enough sleep.

To begin with, I believe one of the major reason could be, stress. It is commonly seen in younge generation due to feeling pressured about work which may directly affect to a person's sleep schedule. For instance, an independent individual person who is committed to his/her job and after spending a hectic day and coming home late after work, also have to wake up early morning for their routine, tend to get less sleep at night.

However, there are few ways to improve the spleep schedule. Firstly, a person should follow a fixed routine if he/she has a same time in job everyday. To illustrate this, make a to-do list where you mention a fix time of waking up, then getting ready to leave for job, followed by a regular and fix time to sleep. Although, many people are taking sleep pills for a deep and relaxed sleep, but there are certain disadvantages for this. Such as, consuming the pill daily can develop a habbit of addition. There might also be some side effects on daily consumption. Therefore, in my personal opinion, it is best to sleep early and it is recommended to sleep at least 8 hours which benefits to stay healthy. Also, having a good sleep will help to boost your energy throughout the day.

To conclude, it is true that lack of sleep is mainly because of overthinking or not following a proper schedule. Living with a well organised timetable may help to get sufficient sleep.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both questions by discussing possible causes and suggesting ways to improve sleep, including a regular routine and avoiding reliance on sleeping pills. The example of a worker with a hectic day helps illustrate how work demands can reduce sleep. However, the task asks specifically about problems caused by lack of sleep, and this part is only briefly covered: you mention reduced energy and health benefits of sleeping well, but do not explain consequences such as impaired concentration, mood, or performance. The response also shifts between causes and solutions without clearly developing the effects. To strengthen the answer, explain several consequences in detail and support each main point with a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an opening, a paragraph about causes, a paragraph of suggestions, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Firstly,” and “To conclude” help readers follow the main stages. However, the progression does not consistently match the question: the first body paragraph focuses on causes, while the effects of sleep loss are not given their own clear development. Some links are mechanical or awkward, particularly “However” before the solutions and “Although” introducing the discussion of pills. Grouping the effects together before moving to solutions, and using more precise links between ideas, would make the argument flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “pressured,” “hectic day,” “side effects,” and “well organised timetable.” There are also attempts at topic-related expressions such as “sleep schedule” and “sufficient sleep.” However, several word choices, collocations, and spelling errors reduce precision, for example “lack in sleep,” “improve the spleep schedule,” “a habit of addition,” and “fix time.” Repetition of “sleep,” “routine,” and “time” also limits flexibility. Aim to learn natural word partnerships and check spelling carefully; more precise expressions for the consequences of sleep loss would also help you address the task more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a conditional structure in “if he/she has a same time in job everyday” and a longer example beginning “For instance.” These attempts show some range, but several sentences contain errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, or sentence construction. For example, “one of the major reason could be” needs plural agreement, and “also have to wake up early” does not agree with the singular subject. The sentence beginning “Although many people are taking sleep pills” is not completed with a grammatically suitable contrast. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and divide long sentences into clearer units while retaining some complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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