Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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 6.5)

In recent years, an increasing number of people prefer to send their toddlers to preschool at the age of three or four. While some parents contend that it is the right choice, other parents disagree with this view. From my perspective, admitting a child to preschool at the age of 3 or 4 is a suitable option. This essay explores the tension between the two opposing views.

A significant advantage that parents presume is that their children can perform well academically. Toddlers who join preschool at the age of 3 or 4 are exposed to the curriculum much earlier than children who join preschool later. This results in them adapting to school life much quicker. This gives them a massive boost in coping with the syllabus in later years and can help them outperform their fellow classmates who were admitted to preschool later. Additionally, joining a play school at an early age, such as 3 or 4, can improve their social interaction with other students and reduce their dependency on their parents.

On the other hand, some parents do not prefer to admit their kids to preschool when they are 3 or 4 years old since they assume that the suitable age or time has not yet been reached. This has some drawbacks, such as addiction to screens. Due to the children’s tedious schedule at home, kids are provided with screens such as phones or iPads to keep them occupied while their parents are busy with household chores. This causes strain on the eyes and may cause social isolation. Furthermore, at the age of 3 or 4, while the process of mental maturity is still happening, keeping them inside their homes can make them comfortable with that atmosphere, and they may find going to preschool uncomfortable and miss their parents and home.

Overall, the evidence strongly suggests that the advantages of sending a child aged 3 or 4 to preschool effortlessly outweigh the disadvantages of keeping them at home.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both advantages and disadvantages of early preschool attendance. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are generally well-developed. For instance, the argument regarding academic performance and social interaction provides a solid foundation for the advantages. The disadvantages section effectively highlights the risks of screen time and potential separation anxiety. While the ideas are relevant and supported, the development could be slightly more nuanced to reach a higher band; for example, the link between 'tedious schedule' and 'addiction to screens' is a bit generalized. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used appropriately to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the advantages from the disadvantages. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to enhance the overall cohesion. The referencing is clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some good collocations like 'academic performance', 'social interaction', and 'mental maturity'. However, there is a reliance on some repetitive or slightly simple phrasing, such as 'admit their kids' or 'massive boost'. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise or academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance. While there are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede meaning, the range of vocabulary is adequate rather than wide or sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show good control over basic grammar, and most sentences are error-free. There are some minor issues, such as 'some parents do not prefer to admit their kids', which is slightly unnatural (preferring 'choose not to' or 'are reluctant to'). The use of complex structures is evident, such as in the sentence 'Due to the children’s tedious schedule at home, kids are provided with screens...', though some could be more varied. Punctuation is generally accurate, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication.

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

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