Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-03

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 5.0)

An enormous percentage of students are selecting and learning English by themselves without taking any course. On the other hand, learning a language without any guidance of a tutor is quite challenging. I partially agree with this, as self-study will be time-saving and develop the critical thinking habit in the students, but at the same time, it will provide more future opportunities and a competitive environment for children.

Independent learning has benefited the children in various ways. Firstly, students use public vehicles and different modes of transport for attending their colleges and universities. Wasting their precious time in traveling. So, self-study saves a lot of time, which we can invest in learning. Secondly, personal learning develops critical analyzing skills because students utilize various methods to gather information. They design their study plan and strictly follow it. For example, many university-going students get the notes from their teachers, but self-learning students do hard work and use their critical thinking skills for their notes and project designing.

In contrast, there are several disadvantages associated with self-study. It can get higher chance of international scholarships because lack

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 184 words long. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you present a clear position, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly in the third paragraph. The arguments regarding time-saving and critical thinking are introduced but lack the depth and full development required for a higher band. To improve, you must ensure you complete the essay structure with a full counter-argument section and a clear conclusion, ensuring all parts of the prompt are addressed thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to organize ideas, which provides a degree of logical flow. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of a concluding paragraph disrupt the overall coherence. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is incomplete, leaving the reader without a sense of closure. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that every paragraph has a clear topic sentence and a logical conclusion to support the progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication expected at higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'critical analyzing skills' and 'independent learning', but there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'get higher chance' and 'get the notes'. The range is somewhat limited, and the vocabulary does not consistently demonstrate the precision required for academic writing. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise academic terminology to express your ideas more fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Wasting their precious time in traveling' (a sentence fragment) and 'because lack' (missing subject/verb). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently enough to cause some distraction. To improve, pay closer attention to sentence boundaries and ensure that complex sentences are constructed with correct subject-verb agreement and appropriate prepositions. Proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy will help elevate your score.

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

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