Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some parents send their children to preschool when they are three or four years old. Other parents wait until their children are old enough for primary school before they send them to school.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of sending children to preschool at a young age.
Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

It is often argued that some parents enroll their children in kindergarten at the age of four or five, while others prefer not to send them to school until they are older. Although starting school at an early age has both advantages and disadvantages, I believe that early enrollment is beneficial because it promotes children's overall development and enhances their social skills.

One major advantage is that schools play a vital role in children's upbringing and the development of their communication skills. This is because when children participate in group activities, they learn more effectively and gain confidence in communicating with others. As a result, they improve not only their cognitive abilities but also their speaking and interpersonal skills. For example, if a child starts school at a later age, they may struggle to participate in classroom discussions and may be less confident than their peers. Therefore, enrolling children in school at the age of four can significantly contribute to their overall development.

However, there are also some drawbacks. One major disadvantage is that some children may not be emotionally or mentally prepared to start school at the age of four. As a result, they may experience stress and anxiety when adapting to a new environment and following classroom rules. For example, some young children become homesick and find it difficult to concentrate on their studies during the first few months of school. Therefore, early enrollment may have a negative impact on their emotional well-being and initial academic performance.

In conclusion, although enrolling children in school at an early age has both advantages and disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because young children learn more effectively during their early years and develop essential cognitive, communication, and social skills that benefit them throughout their lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of early preschool enrollment. You maintain a clear position throughout the essay, which is consistently supported by relevant arguments. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on social skills and emotional readiness. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, real-world examples rather than hypothetical ones (e.g., mentioning a specific study or a broader societal trend). However, the response is balanced and directly answers the task requirements, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'As a result', 'However', and 'Therefore' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the advantages and disadvantages is clearly delineated, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'overall development', 'interpersonal skills', and 'emotional well-being' are used correctly and appropriately. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to add nuance to your arguments. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is natural, and there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over grammatical forms, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. Complex structures, such as the conditional 'if a child starts school at a later age, they may struggle', are used accurately. Punctuation is generally correct, and the writing is clear and professional. There are no significant grammatical errors that hinder the reader's understanding. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as inverted sentences or more advanced relative clauses.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.