Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-08
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people feel that the government should pay the costs of running universities so that a university education will be free for anyone who wants it.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 4.0)
In today's rapidly changing world, diverse view points continue to emerge regarding this issue. In this day and age , a significant proportion of individuals acknowlegde that government should provide a grants to universities since they provide free education to students . while I understand that this argument possesses a degree of validity , I remain convince that it is only partially justified when examined from a ruder prospective .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0
The response is significantly under-length, containing only 70 words against the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed, and the position is not developed. While the introduction attempts to set up a balanced argument, the lack of body paragraphs and supporting examples means the response fails to meet the basic requirements of the task. To improve, you must expand your ideas into full paragraphs with clear arguments and supporting evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
Due to the extremely limited length, there is no opportunity to demonstrate paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. The text consists only of an introduction. While the sentences are linked with basic cohesive devices like 'while' and 'since', the overall structure is incomplete. To achieve a higher score, you need to organize your response into a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, using a wider range of cohesive devices to link ideas effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is somewhat limited and contains several errors, such as 'view points' (viewpoints), 'acknowlegde' (acknowledge), and 'ruder prospective' (broader perspective). While the attempt to use academic vocabulary is present, the inaccuracies in spelling and word choice hinder the clarity of the message. To improve, focus on mastering common academic collocations and proofreading for spelling errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The response contains several grammatical errors, including 'provide a grants' (provide grants) and 'I remain convince' (I remain convinced). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the punctuation is inconsistent, such as the unnecessary space before the comma in 'day and age ,'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. You should also practice constructing more complex sentences with accurate verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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