Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-18

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 6.5)

In recent years, a large number of students have chosen to study English independently rather than attend formal language courses. Although self-study offers greater flexibility and independence, I largely disagree with the idea that students can manage their English studies equally well without the assistance of a teacher.

One major advantage of studying English independently is that students can organise their learning according to their own schedules and interests. For example, a student who has a full-time job can study vocabulary or grammar whenever they have free time instead of following a fixed class timetable. In addition, the internet provides a vast range of free resources, including videos, podcasts, online dictionaries and language-learning applications. This makes it possible for motivated learners to improve several skills without attending a traditional course.

However, self-study can be difficult because learners may lack direction and discipline. Without a teacher, students often do not know which areas they should focus on or whether their methods are effective. They may also spend too much time on topics they already understand while neglecting important weaknesses. For instance, a student preparing for an English examination might concentrate heavily on memorising vocabulary but fail to practise speaking and writing adequately. A teacher can identify such weaknesses and provide a structured study plan.

Furthermore, interaction with a teacher and other students is particularly important for developing communication skills. English is not simply a subject that can be learned by reading books; learners need regular opportunities to speak and receive feedback. A teacher can correct pronunciation, grammatical mistakes and unnatural expressions immediately. In my experience, students who practise speaking in a classroom often become more confident because they receive guidance and encouragement from both their teacher and classmates.

In conclusion, self-study can be an effective way to learn English, particularly for independent and highly motivated students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by presenting a clear position throughout the response ("I largely disagree with the idea that students can manage their English studies equally well without the assistance of a teacher"). The ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as a full-time job schedule or preparation for an English examination. The arguments comparing self-study flexibility against the necessity of teacher-led guidance and communication practice are extended appropriately. The response meets all the requirements of Band 7 for this criterion, as it presents a clear overall position, addresses the prompt thoroughly, and supports main points effectively with well-chosen examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response features a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction and acknowledgement of self-study benefits in paragraph two, to the drawbacks in paragraph three, and finally to the communicative importance of teachers in paragraph four. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately (e.g., "In addition", "However", "For instance", "Furthermore"), and paragraphing is managed skilfully. Although the conclusion paragraph is slightly truncated, it still successfully signals the end of the essay. The overall structure aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision (e.g., "independent and highly motivated students", "fixed class timetable", "neglecting important weaknesses"). The candidate also successfully attempts less common lexical items and collocations with general awareness of style, such as "vass range of free resources" and "structured study plan". Word choice is generally appropriate and communication is effortless. While it does not consistently display the sophisticated control or rare uncommon items required for Band 8, the lexical resource comfortably satisfies the Band 7 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer employs a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simple forms (e.g., using concessive clauses like "Although self-study offers greater flexibility..."). There is good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Frequent error-free sentences appear throughout the text, and any minor errors are virtually non-existent, meaning the majority of sentences are grammatically accurate. The control exhibited matches the upper end of the scale, bridging towards Band 8 due to the high frequency of error-free complex structures and smooth syntactic control.

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