Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that physical education classes are an important part of a child's education. Others believe that it is more important to focus on academics during school time.

Discuss both these views, and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Some individuals believe that physical education classes are a crucial part of school life, whereas others argue that students should concentrate on studies more while in the school. I believe that both are equally important because physical education helps students to maintain their health, while academic classes are beneficial in teaching important subjects and broaden their knowledge.

To begin with, PE classes are beneficial for the well being of children as it involves doing exercises and sports which helps students to maintain their body and mind. For example, when children plays it releases their tension and helps them to unwind. Therefore, many

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 102 words. Because the essay is incomplete, the task is not fully addressed. While you have introduced the topic and stated a position, you have not provided a full discussion of both views or a complete conclusion. The ideas presented are relevant but remain underdeveloped due to the premature ending. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full introduction, two body paragraphs (one for each viewpoint), and a clear conclusion, ensuring each point is supported by examples and explanations to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows a basic attempt at logical organization. You use a transition phrase 'To begin with' to start your first body paragraph, which helps with flow. However, because the text is incomplete, it is difficult to assess the overall progression of ideas or the use of cohesive devices across a full essay. The paragraphing is currently insufficient as the essay cuts off mid-sentence. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the limited length of the response. You use some appropriate terms such as 'crucial', 'well being', and 'unwind'. However, the range is quite narrow, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To achieve a higher band score, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to education and health. For example, instead of 'maintain their body', you could use 'improve physical fitness' or 'enhance physiological health'. Focus on expanding your range of vocabulary to express complex ideas more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement in 'when children plays', which should be 'when children play'. Additionally, the sentence 'students should concentrate on studies more while in the school' is slightly unnatural; 'at school' would be more idiomatic. While the errors do not significantly impede communication, the range of structures is limited. To improve, practice using a wider variety of complex sentence forms, such as conditional sentences or relative clauses, and pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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