Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-27

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)

LACK OF SLEEP AND ITS CAUSES

the rising effects of inadequate sleeping habit has become all round high reasons because most people naturally find it difficult to sleep early or even sleep at all.

Some times inability to get enough sleep can be natural,that is based on the individuals genetic makeup.

Also it can be due to certain factors such as extreme fatigue, addiction to social media and incessant use of electronic gadgets, such as streaming over time, chatting with friends and family when they should be resting, use of certain medications and medical conditions.

Also emotional and mental stress can also inhibit an individuals ability to get enough sleep or even sleep at all.

There are various things and approaches that can be used to curb this problem,

Firstly in respect to the natural and medical cause of inability to get enough sleep certain kind of medications can be prescribed to the individual in order to boost sleep,also for in the aspect of extreme fatigue stress management is adviced.

When it comes to the aspect of social media and gadget addiction, the use of cellphones, television, radios and other gadgets must be stopped especially at night or during relaxation hours as much as possible individuals must afford all types of emotional and mental stress capable of distorting their sleep pattern.

Writing from experience in 2024 I encountered this challenge because I was mentally stressed due to lack of finance and this led to social media addiction which affected my sleep pattern

I would rather do everything else than have a good sleep, even when I have the intention of sleeping it is always so difficult to fall asleep.do this is me writing from a place of experience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the problems caused by lack of sleep and potential solutions. However, the development is somewhat superficial. While you mention causes like fatigue and social media, you do not explicitly detail the specific 'problems' (consequences) that lack of sleep causes, such as health issues or reduced productivity, which is a key requirement of the prompt. The ideas provided are relevant but lack depth and specific examples beyond your personal anecdote. To improve, ensure you clearly separate the 'problems' from the 'causes' and provide more detailed explanations for each.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Also', 'Also', 'Firstly'). There are issues with sentence-level cohesion, particularly in the final paragraph where the flow becomes fragmented. The transition between the causes and the solutions is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You use phrases like 'inability to get enough sleep' multiple times, which limits your lexical range. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'all round high reasons' and 'afford all types of emotional stress', which sound unnatural. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to health and lifestyle, and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the essay. Using synonyms will help demonstrate a more flexible range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, there are missing spaces after commas, run-on sentences, and issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'the rising effects... has become'). The use of articles and prepositions is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors impact the overall fluency of the writing. Focusing on basic sentence construction, proper punctuation, and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your score.

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

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