Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-19

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)

Nowadays, many people struggle to get enough sleep. Stress, insufficient physical activity and using mobile phones before bedtime can contribute to this problem. Managing stress and making changes to daily routines may help people improve their sleep.

Firstly, I would like to discuss about mental issues like stress and tensions because these are the main and major reasons i am hearing from most of the people.Most of the people are using sleeping pills and alcohol for good sleep anyway they are drug which give numness to the body , so they fall sleep.People who are not having habbit to take drugs or alcohol , they cant sleep for them its really hard to fall sleep which lead to problems like headache , eyepain , irritation and dullness.Everybody needs physical exercise since, they are doing computer jobs and not giving time for physical activites are major problem for lack of sleep. Doing exercise like yoga , meditation , walking and gym is the best way for good sleep.Main point we need to mark is if body stress and strain we can have good sleep but if only mentally we are stressed we cant because there is no physical activity.

For example, I work as a receptionist, and my duties include answering calls, completing computer-based tasks and assisting visitors. At times, I have little opportunity to take a break and feel overwhelmed. When I discussed this with a doctor, she recommended meditating for twenty minutes every morning and walking for thirty minutes each day. After following this routine consistently for a month, I found it easier to manage my stress and workload. This experience helped me understand the value of making time for exercise and relaxation.

In conclusion, stress, limited physical activity and using phones before bedtime can contribute to sleep difficulties. Regular exercise, relaxation and healthier bedtime habits may help people address these problems and improve their overall well-being.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the task, identifying both the causes of lack of sleep and the problems it creates, followed by potential solutions. The student provides a relevant personal example working as a receptionist to support the ideas regarding stress and physical exercise. However, some ideas in the second paragraph are slightly repetitive and under-developed, particularly regarding sleeping pills and alcohol. While the reasoning is clear, the development could be more cohesive and fully explored to reach a higher band. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, and a clear position is maintained throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is divided into logical paragraphs with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the cohesion within the second paragraph is weak, containing run-on sentences and a lack of clear transitions between distinct ideas, such as moving from sleeping pills to physical exercise. Cohesive devices are sometimes basic or repetitive ('Firstly', 'For example', 'In conclusion'). The progression of ideas in the middle paragraph is somewhat disjointed, which impacts the overall flow of the text. Paragraphing is used, but internal structuring requires improvement. These features align closely with the Band 5.5 or 6.0 descriptors, specifically fitting a Band 6.0 for coherent overall arrangement despite mechanical faults.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic concepts about sleep deprivation, stress, and remedies. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary items such as 'overwhelmed', 'meditating', and 'well-being'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'discuss about', 'eyepain', and 'habbit to take drugs'. Spelling and phrasing are generally understandable and do not impede communication, but the errors prevent the response from achieving a higher lexical score. The range of vocabulary is sufficient for the communicative purpose, fitting a Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though control over complex structures is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, including run-on sentences, missing articles, and awkward phrasing such as 'i am hearing from most of the people' and 'if body stress and strain we can have good sleep'. Despite these frequent errors, the meaning remains mostly clear and communication is rarely impeded. The grammar demonstrates a sufficient attempt at varied structures, but the density of errors places it firmly within the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

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