Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-09

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 7.5)

The ideal configuration of school classrooms remains a subject of ongoing debate among educators. While a segment of society contends that academic performance is maximized when children are streamed into homogeneous ability groups, others maintain that inclusive, mixed-ability environments yield better outcomes. In my view, while ability-based tracking offers pragmatic instructional advantages, the profound social and intellectual benefits of a diverse classroom make it a vastly superior approach.

Advocates of segregating students by capabilty argue that optimizes intructional efficiency. In a hmomgenous classroom, educators can calibrate their teaching speed and material to perfectly match the students' baseline. For high-achieving pupils, this eliminates the stagnation that occurs when waiting for peers to catch up, allowing for an accelerated curriculum. Conversely, lower-achieving students are spared the psychological distress of constant comparison and can receive focused, remedial support at a manageable pace, thereby preventing them from falling irretrievably behind.

However, the merits of a diverse classroom extend far beyond mere academic metrics. Mixed-ability settings serve as an essential microcosm of the real world, fostering crucial softs skills like empathy, tolerance, and collaboration. Within these settings, high-performing students often consolidate their own knowledge through peer-tutoring, a process that refines their communication skills. Simultaneously, weaker students benefit from the scaffolding provided by more capable peers, finding inspiration in their habits rather than feeling isolated by institutional labeling.

In conclusion, although ability grouping can streamline the delivery of cirriculum, it inherently risks creating academic silos. I firmly believe that mixed-ability classrooms are preferable, as they cultivate well-rounded citizens equipped with both the cognitive flexibilty and the social literacy required to thrive in a diverse society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the efficiency of homogeneous grouping and the social benefits of mixed-ability classrooms—while maintaining a consistent and well-supported personal position. The ideas are logically developed, with specific examples like 'peer-tutoring' and 'remedial support' providing depth to your arguments. The introduction and conclusion effectively frame the discussion, ensuring the reader understands your stance from the outset. To reach the highest band, ensure that every point is balanced; your argument for mixed-ability classrooms is slightly more detailed than the counter-argument, but this does not detract from the overall quality of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-structured with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth, using effective cohesive devices such as 'Conversely' and 'However'. The use of referencing is precise, and the logical flow from the benefits of streaming to the social advantages of diversity is easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the argument. The text is cohesive throughout, and the relationship between ideas is clearly signaled, making the essay very easy to read.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a wide and sophisticated range of vocabulary, such as 'homogeneous', 'calibrate', 'microcosm', and 'cognitive flexibility'. These choices are precise and contribute to a formal, academic tone. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'capabilty', 'hmomgenous', 'intructional', and 'cirriculum', which are likely slips rather than a lack of knowledge. However, these do not impede communication. Your ability to use collocations like 'institutional labeling' and 'academic silos' shows a high level of lexical control, which is characteristic of a strong band 7 or 8 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures, including conditional-like reasoning and sophisticated subordinate clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and syntax is excellent. You use a variety of sentence lengths and types, which keeps the writing engaging. While there are a few minor slips in spelling, the grammatical accuracy remains high throughout. The use of complex structures is natural and contributes to the overall clarity of your argument, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

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

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