Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that children learn better when they are placed in classes with children of similar academic abilities. Others believe that children learn better when they are in classes with children representing a diverse range of academic abilities.

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 6.5)

Education plays a vital role in children's lives. A few individuals believe that having the same academically knowledgeable children in the class helps them learn better compared to having a diverse range of toddlers. In my opinion, although ability grouping can be useful in some situations, children generally benefit when different academic abilities contribute to greater diversity in learning new things. I will discuss both views and give my opinion in the upcoming paragraph.

To begin with, placing students in classes with similar levels can make teaching more efficient. Teachers can design lessons which can easily understandable, improve academic performance, and reduce frustration. In addition, high-achieving students may be challenged to advanced tasks, while lower-achieving groups can get more support and explanation. For example, many children struggle in mathematics and science, which can help them to learn at different speeds.

On the other side, mixed-ability classes believe that diverse academic performance creates valuable learning opportunities. Stronger students can reinforce their ideas in classes while weaker students can gain knowledge, support and critical thinking. For instance, in a group project, students can contribute with different strengths in different ways, leading to better collaboration.

In my opinion, mixed-ability classes are the better option overall. Although ability grouping may offer some short-term academic advantages, it can also create labels that affect students’ confidence and motivation.

In conclusion, both approaches have merits, but I believe that classes containing a diverse range of academic abilities provide greater long-term benefits. They not only support academic learning but also help children develop the social and cooperative skills that are essential for success in later life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The position is consistent throughout the essay. Ideas are relevant, such as the mention of 'teaching efficiency' for ability grouping and 'social skills' for mixed-ability classes. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example provided for the first view is vague, stating that children struggle in math and science without explaining how grouping specifically addresses this. To reach a higher band, the arguments need more depth and specific, illustrative examples rather than general statements. Overall, the response is well-structured and fulfills the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'In addition', 'On the other side', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. The referencing is clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the argument throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and generally conveys meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'ability grouping', 'mixed-ability classes', and 'academic performance'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as referring to school-aged children as 'toddlers' in the introduction, which is contextually incorrect. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid informal or inaccurate terminology. The current range is sufficient to communicate ideas but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, such as 'Education plays a vital role in children's lives.' However, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'lessons which can easily understandable' (missing 'be') and 'mixed-ability classes believe' (classes do not hold beliefs; people do). Punctuation is generally accurate, and these minor errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, you should aim for a greater variety of complex structures and ensure higher accuracy in subject-verb agreement and sentence construction.

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

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