Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-11

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)

Most of the pupils select study English language by self preparation rather than studying in classroom. Class teacher suggestion is required to manage their studies. To a large extent I support the first view. My inclination is justified further.

The foremost argument to support my view is that there are many materials are available on the internet. If learners study videos of language learning course on youtube, they gain knowledge of that section. Therefore, they become independant in learning. For example, a recent survey in India showed that, around sixty percentage youngsters are able to learn new language from video courses. In addition, this video contents are published by experts. When they created a course for learning, there are many methods and tips are available for learning. Hence, this contents are beneficial for pupils.

Furthermore, they can learn language as per their schedule. Because it provides flexibility and can access anytime during the day. Consequently, students can manage their study between this learning hours.

However, other view is not rejected due to various reasons. The first reason is that while video contents do not provide interaction, assistance is required for some doubtful topics. As a result, in the classroom youngsters can ask about their difficult topics to teachers. Moreover, it gives discussion among pupils. Since classroom become popular choice for many learners, it provides study environment. Hence, it is beneficial for student personal growth.

In conclusion, although teacher assistance provides interaction and study environment, I believe that learners can learn English with the help of video tutorials and their own schedule.

since, whereas, although

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the availability of online materials and flexibility, the arguments could be more thoroughly extended with deeper analysis or more specific examples. The example regarding the survey in India is a good attempt at support, but it lacks sufficient detail to be fully convincing. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a clear explanation of 'why' or 'how' it impacts the learner, rather than just stating the benefit. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, but the overall depth of the argument remains at a mid-level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'However' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'other view is not rejected', which could be phrased more naturally. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph transitions logically into the next will help improve the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'self-study', 'video tutorials', and 'independent learning'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward word choices or collocations, such as 'select study English language' instead of 'choose to study the English language' and 'video contents' (content is usually uncountable). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and ensure that your word choices are precise and natural in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'there are many materials are available' (double verb), 'sixty percentage youngsters' (should be 'sixty percent of youngsters'), and 'this video contents are' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with article usage and pluralization. To achieve a higher score, focus on reducing these recurring errors and aim for more error-free complex sentences by practicing subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles.

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

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