Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-07
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 think that students learn better when they study with their same knowledge people however other believe that they learn better when they study with different range of learning abilities students.
On one side, children learn better with different range of academic abilities students because in this situation they can learn one thing in different ways for example, a student is studying with their seniors and he doesn’t understand anything so senior can explain that thing to the student in many different ways with some tips and tricks they used when they were in that same situation also junior student get to know about more real life things which he never experienced with their same age of people.
On the other side, I would say student can learn better with the same level of knowledge people.
Firstly, boost the confidence, if a student is studying with same level of student that will help to boost their confidence rather than studying with different level of academic knowledge people. Sometimes people make fun of each other which really effect on other’s confidence.
Secondly studying with the same level of people can also help to learn the things according to that for intense if a student is studying with high knowledgable people it is really hard for a student who has a weak academic abilities because teacher most of the time use a hard examples or use the difficult words to make them understand anything rather than using easy ones because they cannot use the easy vocabulary or anything just for the week academic abilities, students
Therefore, there are two reasons that why students should studying with the same level of academic ability students and there is a one reason that why they should not studying with the different level of student
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that mixed-ability classes allow for peer tutoring, the explanation is repetitive and lacks specific, concrete examples. Similarly, the argument for same-ability grouping relies on generalisations about confidence and teacher methodology. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed reasoning and clearer real-world illustrations. The conclusion is also incomplete, as it ends abruptly without summarising your final stance effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, phrases like 'On one side' and 'On the other side' are used, but the transition between ideas within paragraphs is often abrupt. There is a lack of variety in linking words, and the referencing (e.g., 'that thing', 'the same level of people') is occasionally vague, making it difficult to track the exact meaning of your arguments. Improving the flow between sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. You frequently use basic phrases like 'same level of knowledge people' and 'different range of learning abilities students' instead of more academic terminology like 'homogeneous grouping' or 'heterogeneous classrooms'. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'high knowledgable people' instead of 'high-achieving students' and 'weak academic abilities' used as a noun phrase. Expanding your range of collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary would help you achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'other believe', 'student can learn'), missing articles, and awkward sentence structures. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the opening sentence which is a long, unpunctuated string of clauses. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring correct verb forms, and using punctuation to separate distinct ideas clearly.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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