Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-26

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)

many individual claim that they study english by themselves instead of attending former classes. However without guidance of instructor many student struggle to manage their study.i largely agree with later point of view because without instruction it is hard for some one to make reliable learning without experience.

firstly, individual can make many mistakes he can not improve mistakes. and there is chances he may struggle more for instance one who is learning under supervision of expert instructor may learn English more efficiently in less time while other need more time to learn same skill so it is also time saving for someone who have exams.

secondly one who learns under guidance may also have high level of knowledge from experienced guider through out the course while other need more research on learning language skill so it may harder for one to discuss language for example the guider knows exact strategies for new learners to learn fast because he has experience how to teach new students bow a days people can also attend online learning so their cost of learning would be minimized .

In conclusion i would like to say it is better to guidance rather than learning by self

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall position: “I largely agree” that independent learners can struggle, and your two reasons—difficulty correcting mistakes and lacking an experienced teacher’s strategies—are relevant. The examples about learning efficiently under supervision and preparing for exams help connect these points to the question. However, the ideas remain limited and are not developed with enough explanation or specific detail; the point about online learning and reduced costs is introduced but not clearly linked to your position. The response also does not meet the required minimum of 250 words, which limits the opportunity to address the issue fully. Develop each reason with a fuller explanation and a specific example, and make your conclusion more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

Your response has a basic essay structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “firstly” and “secondly,” and a conclusion. These markers help the reader identify the main sections. However, progression within the paragraphs is not always clear: the first body paragraph moves from mistakes to time and exams without fully explaining the links, while the second shifts from teacher expertise to research and then online costs. Some connections are also awkward or unclear, such as “so it is also time saving for someone who have exams.” Use one central idea per paragraph, explain how each example supports it, and use linking phrases to show cause and contrast more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “guidance,” “supervision,” “experienced,” “strategies,” and “learning language skill.” This gives you a basic range for discussing independent study and formal instruction. However, the vocabulary is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “former classes” for formal classes, “make reliable learning,” and “high level of knowledge from experienced guider.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “english,” “individual,” and “bow a days,” also reduce accuracy. Build a bank of natural phrases for education and learning, and check spelling and collocations when revising so your meaning is easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer structures, including a conditional-style comparison beginning “while other need more time” and a reason clause with “because.” This shows an effort to connect ideas rather than rely only on short statements. However, sentence structures are often faulty, and errors in agreement, articles, plurals, and punctuation occur frequently. For example, “many student struggle” needs plural agreement, “there is chances” has incorrect agreement, and “someone who have exams” has a subject–verb error. Several sentences run together, such as the opening after “study.” Practise accurate sentence boundaries and subject–verb agreement, then build longer sentences from correctly formed clauses.

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

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