Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-21

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 5.5)

People believe that physical education plays a key role in a child's education, while other people think academic education is more beneficial for them, but I believe that

People believe that physical education is best for a child's upbringing, as it opens up paths for them. They can learn a lot if they study physical education, as they learn about their body parts, how to heal them, and how long it will take. For example, if a child has an injury to their leg, he knows how to treat it without any help. It is most common among people playing games; sometimes they sustain fractures or other serious injuries. If they have education in these areas, they know how to treat them. Another thing is that they become healthier because they know how much they can consume to be healthy. They can do exercises, yoga and many more, which make them healthier. For example, celebrities engage in many of these activities; therefore, they look so young and energetic.

While others believe that academic education is key to living. They can set a good example if they study hard. They can motivate many people in the process; for example, if a person works so hard to earn a scholarship and can study abroad, it is best for them and for others. Another idea is that they can open a new business if they focus on academics. It is a good source of money. For example, a person works so hard that he can move abroad, open a business there, and earn more money than he would in his own country.

In conclusion, I think both play important roles in everyone's life. If a person wants to enjoy more, he should strike a balance in both; then he will live a beautiful life

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments regarding physical education focus narrowly on injury treatment and nutrition rather than the broader educational or developmental benefits. Similarly, the academic argument is somewhat vague, focusing on earning money and moving abroad rather than the intellectual or societal value of academic study. The position is clear, but the supporting points lack depth and academic maturity, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is often mechanical. The use of cohesive devices is repetitive, with 'For example' and 'Another thing/idea' used as the primary means of linking sentences. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph. While the essay is coherent overall, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the somewhat disjointed flow between sentences limit the score to a 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. The student relies on basic, repetitive phrasing such as 'study hard', 'good example', and 'work so hard'. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, but they are often used in contexts that feel slightly unnatural, such as 'upbringing' in relation to physical education. To improve, the student should focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to the topic of education and physical development.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'a person works... he can move'), awkward phrasing, and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors is noticeable and occasionally distracts from the argument. The student demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, but the control over these structures is inconsistent, which is characteristic of the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.