Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-18

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 5.0)

There are majorly two types of parents, one who sends their children to school when they reach three or four and other who prefer to wait until they become capable to get into primary level. There are several merits and demerits for these approaches.

The main advantage of starting early schooling is that they are often ahead in their academic performance compared to the ones who started late. This is because they are being exposed to more studying materials from a very young age. Moreover, they are more flexible and comfortable is adjusting to the structured environment of schools. Hence, increasing the likelyhood of enjoying the strict studying hours. For instance, a toddler who has been going to preschool knows very well about the surroundings and when they reach to the primary level it

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to address the prompt regarding the advantages and disadvantages of preschool, but it is severely incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence. At only 134 words, it falls far short of the required 250-word minimum. Because of this significant under-length, the task is only partially addressed, and ideas such as disadvantages are entirely missing. In accordance with the IELTS assessment criteria for length violations, the score is heavily impacted by the lack of full development and incomplete word count. To improve, the writer must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed and the minimum word count is achieved.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response shows an attempt to structure an introduction and body paragraph using cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'Hence'. However, because the text abruptly cuts off in the second paragraph, overall progression and paragraphing are disrupted. The logic between sentences in the first paragraph is generally clear, with statements like 'There are several merits and demerits for these approaches.' However, the lack of a conclusion and the unfinished nature of the text prevent higher-band coherence. Paragraphing is introduced, but needs to be sustained and fully developed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for a basic response, attempting some appropriate phrases such as 'structured environment', 'academic performance', and 'flexibility'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'There are majorly two types' instead of 'broadly speaking', and 'comfortable is adjusting' instead of 'comfortable with adjusting'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the limited volume of text restricts the overall demonstration of lexical resource. Using more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring accurate word forms will help improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'one who sends their children... and other who prefer...' and relative clauses like 'a toddler who has been going to preschool'. However, there are grammatical inaccuracies present, including subject-verb agreement issues ('one who sends' combined with plural/singular mismatches) and a fragment sentence at the end where the text cuts off ('when they reach to the primary level it'). Punctuation is generally fine, but grammatical control needs greater consistency across a fully realized essay.

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

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