Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-02
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Write about the following topic:
Many young people choose to take a year out between finishing school and starting university in order to gain work experience or to travel. The experience of non-academic life this offers benefits the individual when they return to education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience
Student answer (Band 5.5)
It is argued by many that youngsters nowadays are choosing to take a gap between school and university in hope of gaining workplace experience or to travel around the world to broaden their field of knowledge. This essay is going to partially agree with the above statement.
On the one hand, many people believes that taking a year out gives them the opportunity to explore the world more and also helps them to manage their life more freely. Taking a year out between their studies also helps them to take time out from their busy schedule and allows them to concentrate on their life properly. For instance, between a year gap and not student a year gap student could manage his\her time properly in university and it also makes things easier for them to comprehend. Consequently, non-academic life can provide the learners the better path of life.
On the other hand, taking a year gap may waste their time. Moving away from daily study routine makes it difficult for them to go back and do their assignments. Moreover, watching their friends study might make them feel left out and not in sync with them. For instance, A student might forget advanced maths formula and in the first year of college they might feel too overwhelmed to even study. Consequently, it might make them feel pressured, burdened and even unable to live a college life properly.
In conclusion, taking a year gap might allow them to take a rest from their busy schedule. However, it might make them feel out of touch from their study life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt and maintains a consistent position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of a gap year, the explanation is repetitive and lacks specific, concrete examples. For instance, the phrase 'manage his/her time properly' is vague and does not clearly explain how non-academic life translates into academic success. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed reasoning or real-world examples. The conclusion is a bit brief and does not fully synthesize the points made in the body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Consequently' to link your thoughts. However, some of these transitions feel mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'between a year gap and not student a year gap student', which is difficult to follow. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'broaden their field of knowledge', 'comprehend', and 'overwhelmed'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'not student a year gap student' and 'take a rest from their busy schedule'. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the sophistication or precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensuring that your word choices are contextually accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('many people believes') and sentence construction ('between a year gap and not student a year gap student'). Punctuation is mostly correct, but the structural errors occasionally impede the flow of your argument. To improve, pay closer attention to basic grammatical rules and proofread your work to identify and correct these recurring slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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