Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-29

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 6.0)

There are different opinions about self-paced learning and learning under the guidance of a teacher. I strongly agree that learning under a teacher's guidance can be more fruitful.

Those who choose to study English independently argue that they can learn at their own pace and have flexible timing to study whenever they want. They believe that self-learning is more cost-effective than the formal course. When a student starts learning at his or her's own pace, they often do not know the starting point. In addition, students can learn beyond a fixed syllabus and can understand out of the box. However, this view does not consider the value of having a fixed schedule to learn a particular subject and how important it is to give equal time as to other subjects.

On the other hand, people who choose a formal way of learning English tend to be more attentive and learn in a systematic order. They have an availability of experienced teachers who can guide them in the right direction. In addition, a schedule of learning English can help them with their pronunciation and understanding of grammar. A professional can help the student to grasp and find the logic behind what is happening and why it is happening. With the right guidance, a student gains confidence and feels better in a social standing.

In conclusion, while self-paced learning may seem to be flexible and cost-effective, I believe that right support and guidance can help a student ace and develop a better adaptation to the language.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. You address both sides of the argument, acknowledging the benefits of self-study before presenting a strong case for formal instruction. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed. For instance, the point about 'social standing' is vague and could have been better linked to the benefits of classroom interaction or peer learning. To reach a higher band, ensure that every point is fully extended with specific examples or logical consequences. Overall, you have addressed all parts of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'On the other hand,' and 'However' to transition between ideas. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and each paragraph has a clear central topic. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices further and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this view') is always precise to avoid any ambiguity in your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fruitful,' 'cost-effective,' and 'systematic order.' There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'understand out of the box' (which is not a standard idiom in this context) and 'availability of experienced teachers.' While these do not impede communication, they limit the precision of your writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and idiomatic expressions that are contextually accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'at his or her's own pace' (incorrect possessive) and 'the availability of' (slightly awkward phrasing). Additionally, 'the right support and guidance can help a student ace' is a bit informal. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to keep the score in the 6.0 range. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence construction will help improve your accuracy.

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

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