Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

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 help from professional teachers.

First and foremost, it must be considered that learners have their own reasons to study on their own, such as a 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 is 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, grammar, 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 months of my English learning journey, I wasted a substantial amount of time and energy because I did not have guidance to know what I should study next. Moreover, without the reassurance from professionals, individuals might doubt their learning methods, which has a 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 an 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, clearly stating a position that acknowledges the benefits of self-study while emphasizing the difficulties of managing learning without professional guidance. The ideas are relevant and supported by personal experience and logical reasoning. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more depth in the discussion of 'managing studies,' perhaps by exploring specific pedagogical benefits of teachers, such as personalized feedback loops or structured curriculum design, rather than focusing primarily on cost and flexibility.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost,' 'Additionally,' 'Nevertheless,' and 'For instance' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages of self-study from the disadvantages. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. The response demonstrates a good command of cohesive structures, though some transitions could be slightly more sophisticated to enhance the flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific language, such as 'independent,' 'professional teachers,' 'study pattern,' and 'guidance.' There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'heapful' (likely a typo for 'helpful') and 'the first a few months' (should be 'the first few months'). While the range is adequate, the essay would benefit from a more varied selection of academic collocations and less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of precision and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a solid grasp of grammar, with most sentences being clear and error-free. However, there are occasional slips, such as 'the help from professional teachers' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here) and the aforementioned phrasing error 'the first a few months.' These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more consistent control over complex grammatical structures and ensure articles and prepositions are used with greater precision.

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