Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-29

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 4.0)

In my opinion, I think so that it is really good that some parents send their children to preschool when they are three or four years old. I totally agree with the given statement.

Firstly, I would like to say the advantages of sending children to preschool at a young age. The merit of sending children to the prechool at a young age is very beneficial rather then sending the children at the age of five years is that at the age of three or four years the children are interested in sports and education (both activities).

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response gives a clear preference for preschool, stating, “I totally agree,” and begins to explain one possible benefit: children may be interested in sports and education at three or four. However, the task asks you to discuss both advantages and disadvantages, and no disadvantage is presented. The single benefit is also not explained or supported with a relevant example, so the discussion remains very limited. The response is 73 words, below the required 250; 24 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. To improve, address both sides, explain how each affects children or families, and add specific examples before giving a balanced conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic sequence: an opening opinion is followed by a paragraph introducing an advantage, and “Firstly” signals the start of a point. This gives the reader a simple sense of direction. However, the response ends before developing a complete discussion, and there is no paragraph or transition for disadvantages or a conclusion. The opening repeats the same position in “In my opinion, I think” and “I totally agree,” while “Firstly” promises further points that do not appear. Organise the essay into an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion; use linking phrases to show how each idea relates to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “preschool,” “sports,” “education,” and “merit,” and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is narrow and several choices or spellings are inaccurate: “prechool” should be “preschool,” “rather then” should be “rather than,” and “the merit … is very beneficial” is an awkward combination. Repetition of “children,” “young age,” and “sending” also limits variety. Build a more precise set of terms for discussing early education, such as “social skills,” “structured learning,” and “separation from parents,” and check spelling and natural word combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a complex sentence with “that … when they are three or four years old,” and the basic message can be followed. However, sentence structures are mostly simple or repetitive, and the opening contains an unnecessary construction: “In my opinion, I think so that it is really good.” The phrase “The merit … is … that at the age…” also becomes difficult to follow because the comparison is not clearly structured. Aim for a wider mix of accurate simple and complex sentences. For example, state the position directly, then use a clear clause such as “One advantage is that children can develop social skills through group activities.” Check sentence boundaries and avoid combining several ideas in one unclear structure.

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

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