Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-27

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)

Nowdays, many students decide to learn English by themselves on a self-study basis instead of attending a formal course. Although help from teachers can be very beneficial for most of the students, I disagree with the idea the students tend to struggle to manage their studies without a teacher's guidance.

One major reason why i disagree is that a teacher may give a same method and guidance to all the students. Every student is unique in his/her own way and his/her way of processing and learning new things might differ from other student. For example, a teacher might advice students to study certain topics more than others but some students may be very poor in those topics and might be excellent in topics that the teacher told not to focus on. Now this students might not score a good marks cause he nither know about the topics the teacher told him to learn nor the topics which he was really good at but didn't read cause the teacher said so. Teachers sometimes can confuse students instead of helping them.

Secondly, a lot of students do better when they are self-studying and get help and assesment from their peers rather than teachers. Students can make their own routine and they way the like to study when the study independently . They can also set their own learning pace according to their preference and liking. All these aspects helps to bring out the best of

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear in the introduction: you disagree that learners struggle without a teacher, and you give two relevant reasons—individual learning needs and the flexibility of independent study. However, the response only partially develops the task. The first example about a teacher directing students to particular topics is difficult to follow and does not clearly show why independent study is more effective. The second reason is cut off at “bring out the best of,” so it is not fully explained or supported. The response also falls seven words short of the required minimum. To strengthen your answer, complete the second point, explain how peer assessment helps, and add a specific example or a brief conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction followed by two body paragraphs, with “One major reason” and “Secondly” signalling the main points. This gives the reader a basic route through your argument. However, progression is uneven, especially in the first body paragraph, where the explanation moves from different learning styles to exam results without making the connection clear. References such as “this students” and “those topics” also make parts of the example harder to follow. The final paragraph ends mid-sentence, leaving the argument incomplete and without a conclusion. Use clearer links between each claim and its example, check that pronouns have clear references, and finish with a concluding sentence that restates your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “self-study basis,” “formal course,” “learning pace,” and “processing and learning new things.” These phrases help communicate your main ideas, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “Nowdays,” “assesment,” “advice” where the verb “advise” is intended, and “nither.” Some expressions are also awkward or imprecise, such as “a same method,” “a good marks,” and “his/her way.” Aim for accurate spelling and more natural collocations, and avoid repeating broad terms such as “study” when a more precise phrase would clarify the point. Proofreading for word forms would make your argument easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in the introduction (“Although help from teachers can be very beneficial…”) and a conditional example (“if a teacher might…” is not used, but you do use “when” clauses). This shows some range, and the main position is usually understandable. However, errors in sentence structure and agreement recur: “I disagree with the idea the students…” needs “that”; “Every student is unique in his/her own way” is followed by inconsistent singular and plural references; and “All these aspects helps” should use a plural verb. The final sentence is incomplete, and punctuation spacing is inconsistent. Review clause construction, subject–verb agreement, and sentence completion, then proofread each sentence for grammatical accuracy.

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