Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

When it comes to the learning abilities of a child, there are various factors involved.

First of all, the individual learning is a major factor. It boils down to the interest of this child; how this child view learning to be. Another take on this, is the cognitive abilities of the child. There are some cognitive disabilities that can make learning difficult for this child. However some people believe that placing children with similar academic abilities can enhance their learning to which I disagree with. To see growth in a child's learning abilities, sometimes deals with the teaching mechanism of the teacher. A child is usually drawn towards pictorial learning. It could range from colours to shapes and many more. I will like to add that teachers could make teaching fun for a child. For example teaching him with music can also aid in learning. It is still the same scope of recalling nursery rhymes.

There is another end of the spectrum that talks about a child learning better when placed with his peers of diverse range of academic abilities which I agree to some degree. In my candid opinion, that can happen because it is easier for a child to socialize compared to adults. This child can mix up with his peers and learn a thing or two things from them. One example is in an art class scenario, where the teacher gives them a task to colour an object. In a class setting, the children usually sits in close proximity. The first child maybe struggling with learning and the other child maybe quick in learning. Socialization plays a part when this first child asks the other child for a colour pencil and watches how this other child colours his drawing. In this sense, this first child can be able to learn how his peers colours nearly.

In conclusion, a child's ability to learn better ranges from the personality of the child and cognitive abilities to the mode of teaching and how he interacts with his peers. Peers can also be a positive contribution to the learning of a child.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument, but the development is uneven. While you discuss the benefits of diverse classrooms, the section on similar-ability grouping is largely sidelined by a discussion on teaching methods (e.g., pictorial learning, music), which is not the core focus of the prompt. Your opinion is present, but the arguments lack depth and academic focus. To improve, ensure that every paragraph directly addresses the prompt's specific question regarding academic ability grouping rather than general teaching strategies. The conclusion is a summary but does not fully synthesize the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is sometimes disjointed. You use some cohesive devices like 'First of all' and 'In conclusion,' but others are used mechanically or incorrectly, such as 'Another take on this, is...' and 'In this sense.' The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of ideas. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks a clear topic sentence followed by supporting evidence, leading to a somewhat fragmented reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'mix up with his peers' and 'learn a thing or two things.' There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the first child can be able to learn how his peers colours nearly.' To reach a higher band, you should aim for more sophisticated collocations and academic vocabulary related to education, such as 'homogeneous grouping' or 'peer-assisted learning,' rather than informal descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the children usually sits') and awkward phrasing ('to which I disagree with'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic grammatical agreement would significantly improve your score.

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

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