Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many parts of the world girls and boys are educated together in co-educational or mixed schools. Some people think that girls and boys benefit from being educated separately in single-sex schools. To what extent do you agree with this view?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience. Write at least 250 words.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In modern societies, co-education has become a considerable topic of debate. Some people think that mixed schools are beneficial for individuals to boost-up their confidence and provide them with equal opportunities. Others argue that there should be separate educational institutes for boys and girls for better academic progress. I strongly agree with the latter point that boys and girls should be educated separately.

On one hand, people consider co-education as a better academic approach for pupils. They believe that mixed schools are more advantageous, as it give them confidence to interact with opposite gender and improve their communication skills. In addition, both genders will get equal opportunities to learn same courses and take part in all sorts of games without gender specification. Consequently, it will give them concept of gender equality and prevent gender based discrimination.

On the other hand, individuals prefer separate schools for boys and girls, as biologically boys and girls are not same. They have different cognitive abilities. For instance, naturally boys are good in understanding complex math problems, while girls are more capable in getting scientific or biological concepts. Additionally, boys are more physically stronger than the girls, making them to participate in same sports is not justified. By competing with same gender in term of academics and sports, not only leads to unbiased results but will also increase their confidence.

In conclusion, I am fully convinced that boys and girls should be taught in separate schools. In this way, they will get opportunities to learn and take part in co-curricular activities with same gender, and will receive justified outcomes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant, though some points, such as the claim that boys are naturally better at math and girls at science, are somewhat stereotypical and lack nuanced support. The ideas are extended, but the development could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band. The conclusion effectively restates the position, ensuring the essay remains focused on the prompt. To improve, ensure that generalizations are supported by more logical or evidence-based reasoning rather than subjective assumptions about cognitive abilities.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'In addition', 'Consequently', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the biological argument and the conclusion could be more tightly integrated to improve the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'co-educational', 'gender-based discrimination', and 'co-curricular activities'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'boost-up their confidence' (should be 'boost their confidence') and 'physically stronger than the girls' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your use of academic collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent minor grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('it give them confidence' instead of 'it gives') and awkward phrasing ('making them to participate in same sports is not justified'). Punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex structures is inconsistent. To achieve a higher score, focus on eliminating these small errors and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy and variety.

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

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