Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

A huge number of students choose to study English independently on a self- study basis rather than attend a formal course. However, without the assistance of a teacher, students often find it difficult to manage their studies.

To what extent do you agree or disagree ?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge experience.

Student answer (Band 7.0)

While there is an increasing number of students who decide to study English independently, I would argue that they might find it difficult to manage their studies without the assistance from professional teachers.

First and foremost, it must be considered that learners have their own reasons to study own their own, such as tight budget, and flexibility. Studying independently enables students to choose when, where, and how they want to study, exploring the most suitable study pattern for them, whereas having a teacher may require students to show up at a certain time and follow a teaching method that not really heapful for them, which fundamentally goes against the reason why they start learning. Additionally, in some developing countries, namely China, finding an English teacher is not affordable for everyone, leading some learners to self-study.

Nevertheless, the downsides of self-study cannot be ignored, especially when it comes to English. There are too many aspects in this subject, such as pronunciation, garmmar, vocabulary, and comprehension. Not only may students realize that they cannot practice pronunciation without correction but they also may find it difficult to manage all the aspects. For instance, for the first a few month of my English learning journey, I wasted a substantial amount of time and energy because I did not have a guidance to know what I should study next. Moreover, without the reassurance from professionals, individuals might doubt their learning methods, which has negative impact on their progress.

In conclusion, for the sake of flexibility and saving money, students may choose to study on a self-study basis; but, such approach may require more time and confidence. Students need to accept the fact that they may not be able to improve certain aspects on their own.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that acknowledges the benefits of self-study while highlighting the significant challenges of learning without a teacher. The ideas are relevant and supported by personal experience and general examples, such as the mention of costs in developing countries. To reach a higher band, the development of the 'downsides' could be more nuanced; for example, explaining exactly how a teacher provides specific feedback on pronunciation or grammar would strengthen the argument. Overall, the position is consistent and the response is well-focused on the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the advantages and disadvantages of self-study. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Additionally', 'Nevertheless', and 'For instance' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas from the benefits of flexibility to the necessity of professional guidance is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You demonstrate a good grasp of topic-specific language such as 'self-study basis', 'professional teachers', and 'learning journey'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'not really heapful' (likely a typo for 'helpful') and 'did not have a guidance'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. The range is sufficient to convey your ideas clearly, but lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'study own their own' (should be 'on their own'), 'first a few month' (should be 'first few months'), and 'did not have a guidance' (should be 'did not have guidance'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, focus on improving subject-verb agreement and article usage. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will also help demonstrate better control over grammatical structures.

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