Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-17
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)
In recent years, there has been a considerable debate about whether pupils should study English independently on a self- study basis. While some people believe that assistance plays a significant role in enhancing their skills. This essay will explain the reasons for my viewpoint.
However, some students prefer self study as they find it challenging working under someone and then planning according to them. They need a flexible time for their study and self study does provides such benefits. Moreover, they consider self studying easier than a formal course as its time consuming, expensive and the problems of traveling. Even talking about online courses, they see it as a formality instead of an opportunity.
In addition, there are a few students who still realize the significance of having an experienced teacher by their side. They make learning easy for their pupils, making them understanding their doubts. Studying with class mates creates a friendly environment where you can share your ideas with others and also observe their point of views. Although it is costly and time-consuming, it enables you to develop a strong command of your skills. For instance, me and my friend had to appear for a competitive exam, so he decided to join an academy while I preferred self study. Resultantly, he got around ninety percent as his doubts were cleared with good preparation, whereas I found it difficult to pass.
In conclusion, I firmly believed that participating in a complete course is much better because it has more chances for your success and you will have confidence in what you have learned.
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 addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout, concluding that formal courses are superior. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the second paragraph discusses the benefits of self-study, the third paragraph shifts to the advantages of formal education, which is good, but the personal example provided is a bit simplistic. The essay would benefit from more depth in explaining why self-study is often ineffective for managing complex subjects, rather than just focusing on the logistical aspects like travel or cost. The position is consistent, but the arguments could be more thoroughly extended to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Resultantly', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the opening paragraph contains a sentence fragment ('While some people believe that assistance plays a significant role in enhancing their skills.') which disrupts the logical progression of the introduction. Overall, the information is arranged coherently, but the use of cohesive devices lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'considerable debate' and 'significance', but the range is somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly awkward or imprecise, such as 'making them understanding their doubts' instead of 'helping them clarify their doubts'. Additionally, there are minor errors in collocation, such as 'the problems of traveling' which would be more naturally phrased as 'the inconvenience of commuting'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning but lacks the precision and sophistication of higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'self study does provides' (subject-verb agreement), 'its time consuming' (missing apostrophe for 'it is'), and 'me and my friend' (incorrect pronoun usage). The sentence structure in the introduction is also problematic due to the fragment mentioned earlier. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and basic punctuation is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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