Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Predictions Nov 2026 · 2026-11-04

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The question “Should full time education become mandatory for children until the age of 18 years?” is being debated in many places. Some people argue that all young people should continue their studies until they reach this age.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

There is a debate nowadays in many places about full time education of uder 18 years old students.

There are some people who support this idea and some are against it.

There are both merits and demerits about youngsters education. The following paragraphs will explain both of these.

Compulsion of full time education for children until 18 years of age can play a vital role in improving their grades and understanding about different subjects.If they spend most of their time learning, they can learn things more faster. This can also contribute in development of their career securing well paid jobs. secondly, by involving in studies, it can keep them away from other activities, such as addiction of alcohol and other crimes. Studies can help them to become a responsible citizen and a son/daughter.

On the other hand, some students have no intreset in studies.They want to do business or learn any other skills. Imposing them with forced education can do nothing but harm to their mental capabilities. They can not develop intreset in studies if they do not want to study. Allowing them what they want to do can help them build their career by choice. By doing this they can live their life happily.

I believe there must be a balance between education and other non-academic activities. Parents need to ask their children; what they want to achieve in their lives? What are their aims and dreams in life? They should encourage and help them in pursuing that field.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the debate by presenting benefits of compulsory education and concerns about forcing uninterested students to study, then conclude that parents should consider young people’s aims. This is relevant, but the response does not state clearly whether you agree or disagree with making education mandatory until 18; the final call for “a balance” leaves your position somewhat uncertain. Several ideas are asserted rather than explained: for example, you say study can prevent alcohol addiction and crime, but do not show how or provide a specific example. The discussion of alternative skills and career choice is also brief. Make your position explicit in the introduction and conclusion, then develop each main reason with explanation or a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, a contrasting paragraph, and a concluding view. The contrast signalled by “On the other hand” helps readers follow the shift in argument, and the main ideas are generally grouped appropriately. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose: the first body paragraph moves from grades to jobs, then crime and citizenship without explaining the links between these points. Phrases such as “The following paragraphs will explain both of these” are formulaic, while “secondly” does not clearly connect to the preceding point. Improve cohesion by organising each paragraph around one central reason and using clearer references and transitions between supporting explanations.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “compulsion,” “mental capabilities,” “pursuing that field,” and “non-academic activities,” which helps communicate the main ideas. However, the range is limited and several word-choice or collocation errors make the writing less natural, such as “learn things more faster,” “development of their career securing well paid jobs,” and “addiction of alcohol.” Spelling errors, including “uder,” “intreset,” and “secondly” when used as a sentence opener, also reduce accuracy. Aim to use precise, natural phrases for education and career choices, and check spelling carefully. Replacing repeated general terms such as “do” and “things” with more specific verbs and nouns would also make the argument clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “If they spend most of their time learning, they can…” and a contrastive sentence beginning “Although” is not used, but the response does include linked clauses. Meaning is generally understandable, though some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Compulsion of full time education … can play” would be more naturally structured as “Making full-time education compulsory … can play,” and “by involving in studies, it can keep them away” has an unclear subject and faulty construction. There are also punctuation and spacing problems, such as missing spaces after full stops and the semicolon before the questions to parents. Practise accurate clause construction, articles, and punctuation while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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