Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-24

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)

Individuals believe that children learn better in a class with children of similar academic abilities. While others believe that children learn better in a class with children have a diverse range of academic abilties. This essay will discuss both sides and I will give my opinion at the end.

On one hand, children in class full of similar academic abilities is not beneficial at all. Children with same level of academic capabilities have same level of knowledge and learning capability. They cannot push each other limits and does not have enough motivation to outperform due to lack of competition. Hence, such childrens remain an average performer throughout their academic journey. Also, can not perform well even expose to high caliber children. For example, countryside children due to lack of competition and motivation, cannot able to push their academic capabilties. Hence, they cannot build a careers and continue doing low wage jobs.

On the other hand, children push each other by witnessing excellence of other children in different academic areas. Children inspire each other by sharing their passion and success plan to other children. Teacher also help to bring up healthy competition due to presence of high ambicious children who try to be better each day. For example, school shout out to the students who performing extraordinary every year to motivate other children.

In conclusion, children with similar academic abilities will never improve in their skills and be successful in their academic life. I agree with the idea od children put with different potential to increase competition and push each others limit to be successful.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You discuss both positions and make your preference clear in the conclusion: you favour mixed-ability classes because pupils can learn from and motivate one another. However, the treatment of the first view is not fully aligned with the task. The paragraph argues that grouping children of similar ability is harmful, rather than explaining why some people believe it helps—for example, through teaching tailored to pupils’ pace or needs. Your supporting points about competition and countryside students are also broad and not clearly connected to the comparison. The response therefore addresses the topic only partially, and the position is clearest at the end. To strengthen it, explain the benefits of each arrangement fairly and develop each with a specific, relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs signposted with “On one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. This makes the overall arrangement easy to follow, and connectors such as “Hence” and “For example” show how you intend to link claims and support. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. In the first body paragraph, the move from limited competition to countryside children and then to low-wage jobs is not sufficiently explained. The sentence beginning “Also, can not perform well” has no clear subject, and the conclusion repeats the main preference without adding a developed synthesis. Use clearer references and explain the links between each claim and its example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “academic capabilities,” “competition,” “motivation,” and “potential,” and phrases such as “healthy competition” help communicate your central argument. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems make parts of the essay awkward or unclear. Examples include “push each other limits,” “sharing their passion and success plan,” and “school shout out to the students.” There are also spelling or word-form errors such as “abilties,” “ambicious,” and “capabilties.” Aim for more precise expressions and check spelling carefully; for instance, explain that pupils can “challenge one another” and that schools “recognise high-achieving students.” This would make your ideas more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex forms, including a contrast introduced by “While” and a reason clause with “due to.” However, many sentences contain errors in sentence structure, agreement, or verb forms, and these sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. “While others believe…” is a fragment because it is not joined to the preceding sentence. In “children in class full of similar academic abilities is not beneficial,” the subject and verb do not agree, while “Teacher also help” and “students who performing” show problems with number and verb form. The sentence “Also, can not perform well” lacks a subject. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and correctly matched verbs, then check articles and plurals.

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

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