Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-14

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)

Nowadays, some individuals believe that pupils perform academically better when they placed similar abilities because of sharing same IQ level mindset. Others believe that children learn better when they representing a diverse ranage of acadamic abilities, to improve the competitive ability and choose the career choices. In my opinion children should learn better with diverse ability then the smiliar abilities.

On the one hand, Some people believe that pupils should placed in same abilities because of same level of IQ to perform well in academics and get higher grades. For an example, a child did friendship with same iq level student, they share ideas and get higher score. As a result, In future they will eligible in top-tier universities and eligible for scholarships.

On the another hand, others believe that children should placed with diverse range. One of the main reasons is to bring the compitition spirit with other children and be the topper of the class. For an example, a child who studies with different level of iq students, they will get compitition in academic test to beat each other and become a top student of the class. As a result, It will help him in real world how to overcome the challenges and stand by themselves.

Furthermore, Pupils with different mindsets and intreset the other childrens also get motivated. For instance, If a child plays extrodinary outdoor activities such as cricket and football, other children also want to join them and focus on outdoor activities. As a result, they can focus on studies and choose the outdoor sports as their careers.

In conclusion, Although children who stay similar ability together to improve their studies and get higher score, I believe children should stay with diverse ability to be compititive with other students and improve their mindset on careers choices.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response discusses both grouping by similar ability and mixed-ability classes, and your opinion—that diverse classes are preferable—is stated in the introduction and conclusion. The examples about sharing ideas, competition, and sports make the discussion relevant. However, the reasons are often asserted rather than explained: for example, the link between studying with similar-IQ peers and gaining scholarships is not made clear, while the claim that competition prepares pupils to overcome real-world challenges needs further explanation. The sports example also shifts towards career choice without showing clearly how mixed academic abilities produce this outcome. Develop each main point with a clearer explanation or a specific, relevant example, and make the comparison between the two approaches more balanced.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, an additional supporting paragraph, and a conclusion. Connectors such as “On the one hand,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several claims are linked mechanically with “For an example” and “As a result,” even when the cause-and-effect relationship is unclear. The second view is also split across two paragraphs without a clear distinction between its points. Use topic sentences to establish each paragraph’s main idea, then explain and support it in a logical sequence; vary linking expressions and ensure references such as “they” and “it” have clear antecedents.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “academic abilities,” “scholarships,” “competitive,” and “challenges,” so the reader can identify the main subject and your position. However, the range is limited and several word choices, collocations, and spellings are inaccurate or repetitive. Examples include “same IQ level mindset,” “bring the competition spirit,” “become a top student of the class,” and repeated use of “ability.” Errors such as “ranage,” “acadamic,” “compitition,” and “intreset” also reduce accuracy and can distract the reader. Build a more precise vocabulary for classroom grouping and learning outcomes, and check spelling and natural word combinations. For instance, describe pupils as “grouped by attainment” or “placed in mixed-ability classes” rather than relying on IQ as the sole measure.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex forms, including “Although children who stay similar ability together to improve their studies and get higher score,” and uses subordinate clauses beginning with “because,” “who,” and “if.” However, many sentences contain errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence construction, which sometimes make relationships between ideas hard to understand. For example, “when they placed similar abilities” needs a passive verb form, and “a child did friendship with same iq level student” does not form a grammatical sentence. The conclusion’s opening “Although” clause is also incomplete in structure. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then build longer sentences with correctly formed clauses; check subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence boundaries.

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