Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-24

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)

Nowadays, many students prefer to study English independently on a self study basis rather than attend a formal course because they can save money and time. However, without the assistance of a teacher, students often find it difficult to manage their studies. I largely agree with this view, and the reason will be explained in the following paragraphs. In addition, students choose to flexible schedule for study, they want to study anytime and anywhere, if students go in classes have fix schedules for study.

On the one hand, self-study offers several benefits for students, self-study allows students to learn at their own pace and save both time and money. For example, students save money of course fees also travelling cost and save extra time for playing, movie and other activities.

Furthermore, many students have great skills for learning they do not need to joint course and they help to each other for difficultly. students spend more time on difficult topics and solve own pace and improve his self confidence. As well as, if students have problem with solving answer they were use Youtube, apps, and websites for information.

On the other hand, without a teacher's guidance, students may repeat their mistakes and find it difficult to improve their language skills. Also students have difficult to understand complex grammar. To exemplify, sometimes online websites, apps and youtuber videos does not helps that time teachers easily to understand hard topics. Moreover, many times students may become lazy or distracted that situation teachers helps to students and focus on their goals.

In conclusion, self-study is useful, but a teacher's guidance is important for effective learning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you “largely agree” that students can struggle without a teacher, and the response gives relevant reasons on both sides. You explain benefits such as saving time and money, then contrast these with repeated mistakes, difficulty with grammar, and distraction. However, the supporting points are often brief: for example, the claim that students can help one another is not illustrated, and the conclusion only restates the general view. The response also does not meet the 250-word minimum: it contains 241 words, with 31 words copied from the prompt excluded from the count. Develop each main reason with a clearer explanation or a specific example, and add a fuller conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, paragraphs presenting advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of your argument. You also use linking expressions such as “On the one hand,” “Furthermore,” and “On the other hand.” However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The sentence beginning “In addition, students choose to flexible schedule” interrupts the introduction’s position and is difficult to connect to the next point. Several ideas are crowded into single sentences, while the paragraph about self-study moves quickly from peer support to confidence and online resources. Group related points more clearly, use pronouns with clear references, and make each paragraph develop one central idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “self-study,” “teacher’s guidance,” “complex grammar,” and “distracted.” There are also attempts to express specific concepts, such as learning “at their own pace.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning less clear. Examples include “save money of course fees,” “help to each other for difficultly,” and “teachers helps to students.” Repetition of “students,” “study,” and “save” also limits variety. Aim to learn common word partnerships and use more precise alternatives, such as “course fees,” “support one another with difficulties,” and “stay focused on their goals.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response includes some subordinate clauses, such as “because they can save money and time” and “without a teacher’s guidance, students may repeat their mistakes.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. For example, “students choose to flexible schedule for study” lacks a grammatical structure, while “if students go in classes have fix schedules” has problems with clause construction and agreement. In “students have great skills for learning they do not need to joint course,” two clauses are joined without suitable punctuation or a connector. Practise accurate sentence boundaries, subject–verb agreement, articles, and verb forms, then check each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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

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