Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-13

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)

Some people assert that students tend to learn more effectively when they are taught alongside the children of same academic ability, whereas others argue that learning become easier when children study with mixed-ability students. In my opinion, learning with students who have different academic abilities is more advantageous because it improves collaboration and weaker students can earn from stronger ones.

To begin with, learning with same ability students is helpful and less stressful because children does not feel a sense of competition. Moreover, teachers can prepare a lesson according to the level of whole class, which makes it easier for students to understand concepts in simple words. For example, advanced students can to challenging tasks without waiting for weaker students to catch up. Similarly, weaker students can study at their own pace without feeling pressured. Therefore, same abilities classes are beneficial for students' individual learning.

On the other hand, learning with different academic abilities students instill cooperation in students. In addition, it also helps children to improve their knowledge. For example, if a stronger academic student teaches a weaker student about basic concepts in simple language. This will not only helps weaker student to learn but will help stronger student to strengthen their knowledge. Consequently, improves cooperation among students.

To conclude, learning become easier when students study with like minded people. However, learning with advance students with different abilities broadens knowledge and also helps children in learning transferrable skills such as teamwork, communication, and empathy these are beneficial for the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, though some development is slightly repetitive. For instance, the argument regarding 'weaker students' is mentioned in both the introduction and the body paragraphs. While the position is consistent, the supporting examples could be more specific to move beyond general statements. The essay covers the requirements well, but the depth of analysis is somewhat limited, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands. Overall, it is a solid attempt that fulfills the task requirements effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader through the arguments. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing; for example, the phrase 'these are beneficial' at the end of the conclusion lacks a clear antecedent. Despite these minor flaws, the progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task, ensuring the reader can follow the argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'assert', 'instill', and 'transferrable skills'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'learning become easier' (should be 'becomes') and 'same ability students' (should be 'students of similar ability'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Improving the variety of collocations would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'children does not feel', 'learning become easier', 'This will not only helps'). Additionally, there are punctuation and phrasing issues, such as the sentence fragment 'For example, if a stronger academic student teaches a weaker student about basic concepts in simple language.' These errors are noticeable but do not impede overall communication. To improve, the writer should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring complex sentences are constructed correctly.

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

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