Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-02

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)

Compared to the past, nowadays sending children to preschool at the age of three or four is a common choice for many families today, while other parents prefer to keep their children at home until they are old enough for primary school. Both approaches have clear advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand, sending young children to preschool brings important benefits. a) The main advantage is early socialization; in a classroom environment, children learn how to share toys, make friends, and follow simple rules with other kids. This helps them become much more confident and independent. b) Additionally, preschool introduces basic learning skills like numbers, colors, and letters through fun activities and games. This gentle preparation makes the later transition to primary school much easier for them.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to early preschool attendance. One major disadvantage is the cost. In other words, private preschools can be quite expensive, which places a heavy financial pressure on many parents. Another issue is health and illness. When young children spend time together in large groups, they easily catch colds and minor viruses because their immune systems are still developing. Finally, some children are simply too young to be away from their parents for long hours, leading to separation anxiety, tears, and unnecessary stress.

In conclusion, preschool offers great benefits for social growth and early learning development, but it also involves financial costs and potential health concerns. Parents should carefully consider their child's personality, readiness, and family situation before making this important decision.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of preschool attendance. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant supporting points, such as social development and financial implications. The structure is logical, and the content is directly relevant to the task. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific examples or personal anecdotes to further illustrate your points, as the current arguments are somewhat general. However, the response effectively covers the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow between sentences is smooth. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure supports the development of your argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'early socialization', 'financial pressure', and 'separation anxiety' are used accurately and appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or less common idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and fits the context of the essay well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar and punctuation is strong. For example, the use of conditional-like structures and compound sentences is accurate. There are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility in your writing.

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

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