Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

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 5.5)

Education has always played a vital role in people's lives. Many people therefore, believe that authorities should cover costs of education completely free for everyone.Although, a free-of-cost education system requires substantial investment, the long-term benefits greatly outweigh the initial costs.I agree with this perspective,why education facilities should be at zero cost and how it can be beneficial to citizens.

One important reason is that, it provides equal opportunities regardless of their financial background.Furthermore,This system not only reduces pressure on parents with fees deadline but also encourages students to enroll in universities and colleges.As a result,countries can find more educational employees for future growth.

Moreover,graduate people's develop new skills,companies can improve productivities and retained talented workers.Thus,government can enhance the quality of life of each citizens.Many talented students work on research and development of technology can give new look to their nation.

In conclusion, Although,spending funds towards education can be stressful.It gives more benefits to all new generation

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 156 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments remain superficial and lack the necessary depth and supporting examples required for a higher band. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the supporting points—such as equal opportunity and economic growth—are stated rather than fully explored or illustrated. To improve, you must expand each body paragraph with specific examples, data, or logical consequences to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive response to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by the brevity of the content. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'Moreover', the connections between sentences are sometimes mechanical or abrupt. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is weak. Additionally, there are issues with punctuation and sentence structure that disrupt the flow of ideas. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that is logically followed by supporting details.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. You rely on somewhat repetitive or simplistic phrasing, such as 'educational employees' (which is an inaccurate collocation) and 'graduate people's'. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'productivities' instead of 'productivity'. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'tertiary education', 'socio-economic barriers', or 'human capital development', and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Many people therefore, believe' (incorrect comma placement), 'Although, a free-of-cost education system' (incorrect comma usage), and 'each citizens' (subject-verb agreement error). There are also issues with sentence fragments and run-on sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic punctuation rules, particularly regarding commas and sentence boundaries. Additionally, practice using complex structures like conditional sentences or relative clauses to demonstrate greater grammatical control.

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

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