Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-14
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)
Some people argue that in a class children placed with similar academic skills learn better, while others claimed that children with mixed -ability classes are effective for their learning. This essay will explore both perspectives before explaining why I am in favor of latter view.
on the one hand, children with same academic abilities in a classroom offers better pace of learning. Teachers teach at a suitable level without worrying that some go far behind or someone go fast. They can provide equal level of tasks to all students as all have same level to learn lessons. For example, high-achieving students can be given advanced problem-solving tasks instead of waiting other classmates to understand the basic concepts. In addition, it increase confidence among children because week children do not feel embarrassed from their peers if they all have similar level of learning skills. This may boost their confidence and they ask questions to teachers as well. Therefore, students with equal level of abilities in classes can perform better and achieve their target easily.
On the other hand, students in a diverse range of classes develops valuable skills such as cooperation, patience, communication, and team-work. The
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 195 words long. This significantly impacts the development of the argument. While you introduce both perspectives and state a position, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly in the second body paragraph. Consequently, the task is not fully addressed, and the conclusion is missing. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full discussion for both sides and a clear, well-supported conclusion. The ideas presented are relevant, but they remain underdeveloped due to the unfinished nature of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'on the one hand' and 'in addition' to organize ideas. However, the progression is interrupted because the text is incomplete. Paragraphing is present, but the second paragraph is cut off mid-sentence, which disrupts the logical flow of the argument. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas more fluidly throughout the entire essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use some repetitive phrasing, such as 'similar academic abilities' and 'level of learning skills'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'week children' (should be 'weak') and 'claimed' (should be 'claim' to match the tense of 'argue'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations related to education, such as 'academic proficiency' or 'heterogeneous classrooms', to demonstrate a broader range of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur frequently. For example, 'children with same academic abilities... offers' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'someone go fast' (should be 'some go fast'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor slips in phrasing. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Proofreading for these common errors will help improve your overall accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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