Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Nowadays, some people believe that a significant amount of students are choosing to study English independently on a self-study basis rather than attend a formal course, while others argue that, without the assistance of a teacher, student often find it difficult to manage their studies. I completely believe student the first view that pupils are avoiding to join any formal course for English studies and choosing independent and self-study because it helps to develop their personal and professional development.
Firstly, Self-study plays a very important role in a student's life. It helps to create logical and critical thinking abilities which is not only beneficial for their personal development , but also necessary for their career. Be
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits your ability to develop your ideas. You have stated a position, but the essay stops abruptly after only two sentences of body content. Because the response is incomplete and fails to address the prompt in sufficient detail, it cannot be awarded a higher band. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full introduction, at least two well-developed body paragraphs with supporting examples, and a clear conclusion. You need to expand on your arguments regarding why self-study is beneficial and how students can overcome the difficulties of managing their studies without a teacher.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows a basic attempt at logical organization by using a transition word ('Firstly'). However, because the text is so short and ends mid-sentence, there is no overall progression or coherent structure. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of a conclusion and the incomplete nature of the second paragraph make it difficult to assess your ability to manage cohesion effectively. To improve, focus on linking your ideas with a wider range of cohesive devices (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting evidence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the topic, such as 'logical and critical thinking' and 'professional development'. However, the range is quite limited due to the brevity of the text. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'avoiding to join' (should be 'avoiding joining') and 'a significant amount of students' (should be 'a significant number of students'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and ensure your collocations are accurate. Focus on using synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a broader range of topic-specific language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'student often find' should be 'students often find', and 'I completely believe student the first view' is syntactically incorrect. You have attempted a complex sentence structure with 'not only... but also', which is a positive sign, but the overall control is inconsistent. The abrupt ending also makes it impossible to evaluate your ability to sustain complex structures. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure your sentence structures are complete and grammatically sound. Practice proofreading your work to catch basic errors in pluralization and word order.
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