Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-02

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)

Today, most people struggle with poor sleep for various reasons, such as heavy workloads and electronic devices. It can be resolved by following measures, which are elucidated in the subsequent paragraphs.

The main compelling cause is technological advancement nowadays. Especially, the younger generation is hooked on electronic gadgets, which can lead to sleep deprivation problems among them. They are using mobile devices and laptops excessively not only during the daytime, but also at night. Consequently, they are distracted from their studies and can sleep for only a short period of time, as usual. For instance, teenagers spend most of their time playing online games instead of focusing on their studies. Moreover, at present, people prefer to work overtime and want to become financially stable. It can prevent them from getting enough sleep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

Your response sits at this level primarily because it falls significantly short of the required minimum word count of 250 words, containing only 132 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you briefly mention causes of sleep deprivation, such as heavy workloads, technological advancement, and younger generations being hooked on electronic gadgets, the second part of the prompt—regarding what can be done about the lack of sleep—is never actually answered, despite your introductory claim that solutions would be elucidated. The ideas presented, such as teenagers playing online games or adults working overtime, are relevant to the first part of the task, but they remain limited and under-developed due to the truncated length and lack of supporting details or proposed solutions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

Your text displays a coherent overall arrangement and a logical beginning. You attempt to structure your writing by introducing the topic and outlining your points in the first paragraph, followed by a body paragraph discussing causes. However, cohesion is limited and mechanical, relying on basic transitions like 'Especially', 'Moreover', and 'Consequently'. Furthermore, referencing is not always clear, and the lack of a concluding paragraph or any discussion on solutions disrupts the overall logical progression of the essay. Paragraphing is introduced, but the abrupt ending of the text prevents a fully managed structural flow, limiting your score in this area.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'sleep deprivation', 'technological advancement', and 'financially stable'. Your word choice is generally clear and communicates your meaning effectively, with only occasional minor awkwardness, such as using 'as usual' in a context where it does not quite fit. While there are some minor inaccuracies and spelling/word-choice slips that show you are pushing your boundaries, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you need to incorporate a wider, more flexible range of sophisticated vocabulary and idiomatic phrases with greater precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

Your grammar and sentence structure show a commendable mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'They are using mobile devices and laptops excessively not only during the daytime, but also at night.' You demonstrate good control over basic verb tenses and clause structures. There are some errors in grammar, such as phrasing like 'It can be resolved by following measures', but these errors rarely impede communication and your overall sentence control remains solid. To push into higher bands, you would need to produce a higher frequency of error-free complex sentences and display a wider variety of advanced grammatical structures with consistent accuracy.

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

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