Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-05

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)

An immense number of students prefer studying English independently on a self-study basis rather than attend a traditional course. Nevertheless, without a guidance form a teacher, students often find it difficult to organize their studies. I agree to a point with this view as gaining knowledge from teachers is quite essential for progression of students´ education generally. However, nowadays there are a considerable number of websites and applications support students to choose self-study method to learn English such as AI through multiple applications and general English websites.

On the one hand, teachers are still playing an important role in guiding students, formal courses give us as students an access to communicate with other classmates in English. For instance, during the class, we can talk with each other in English which boosts our motivation levels.

On the other hand, due to a significant number of websites and AI applications available online, students frequently choose self-study method for learning English as these applications provide us with a lot of information. For example, we can search anything in English in Cloude application. Additionally, it consumes less time compared with formal courses. Furthermore, these applications are depending on all students can access to any information they need and from distinict websites. Moreover, we can easily practise the four parts of English, writing, reading, speaking and listening.

In the light of the aforementioned points, I believe that teachers still can help students to learn English. However, students can learn English using self-study method and I believe that this method is no longer difficult for students because they are able to use many different websites and applications to learn English.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position throughout the essay. The writer explores both sides of the argument, discussing the continued relevance of teachers alongside the increasing prevalence of online tools and AI applications. However, some ideas are more fully developed than others. For instance, the discussion on how AI applications like Claude provide information is somewhat repetitive and lacks deeper extension. Furthermore, 19 words copied directly from the task prompt were not counted toward the overall length, though the essay successfully met the minimum word count requirement overall. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to provide more fully developed explanations and more robust examples to support every main point.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is used to separate distinct ideas, with body paragraphs dedicated to contrasting the role of teachers with the benefits of self-study tools. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty. Transitional phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' are utilized, but referencing and logical flow can become muddled, such as the awkward linking phrase 'In the light of the aforementioned points' in the conclusion. Additionally, some sentences within the body paragraphs feel disjointed rather than naturally flowing from one to the next. To improve, the writer should ensure that cohesive devices connect ideas more smoothly without relying on repetitive formulas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'immense number', 'traditional course', and 'progression of students´ education'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form. For example, the writer uses 'a guidance form a teacher' (instead of 'guidance from'), 'support students to choose' (instead of 'supporting students in choosing'), and 'distinict' (spelling error). Furthermore, terms like 'consuming less time' and 'depending on all students can access' show awkward phrasing. These errors do not seriously impede communication, but they restrict the score. Incorporating more precise academic vocabulary and ensuring correct word forms will help elevate this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination and relative clauses, such as '...students frequently choose self-study method for learning English as these applications provide us with a lot of information.' However, there are some persistent errors in grammar and punctuation. Article usage is occasionally problematic, as seen in phrases like 'rather than attend a traditional course' (missing a preposition or gerund form) and 'choose self-study method' (missing the article 'the'). Other errors involve preposition patterns and verb agreements. While these grammatical errors rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear throughout, the frequency of basic slips prevents the writing from achieving a higher level of control.

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