Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-28
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 past, boys and girls studied in single gender schools and they were not allowed to interact with each other. However, today's story is different as society treat both genders equally and in many parts of the world girls and boys are educated together in co-educational schools. Still some people argue that girls and boys benefit from being educated separately in single-sex schools. Personallly, I see both advantages and disadvantages of this phenomenon at the same time.
On the positive side, if girls and boys will study seperately then they will be able to learn things more easily, as they boys will be taught by male tutors and girls from female tutors. Meanwhile, it would be more easy for the management to maintain discipline in the school because rules will be made accordingly for boys and girls seperately. What is more, boys and girls will feel more comfortable in school because they are not interacting with opposite gender, most of the students feel shy to ask any doubt in front of the opposite gender. If single-sex schools will come into existance then there are the possible benefits of it.
On the negative side, single-sex schools can have some detriminal effects on learners. Firstly, if both the genders will study then they will lack confidence while interacting with opposite gender, because they never got a chance to interact with each other. Not only this, if boys will be taugth seperately then they might get spoiled as they will often experience frequent fights in the classroom. Nontheless, the overall result of the school will also decrease as girls are more capable of scoring good marks as compared to boys, if they will study in seperate schools then definately one will lack behind the other one.
In conclusion, I believe that society is educated nowadays and they shoud encourage co-education as it is crucial for the development of both the gender to study together and interact with each other.
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 student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both sides of the argument regarding single-sex versus co-educational schooling and clearly states a position. In the introduction, the writer notes that they see both advantages and disadvantages, and later concludes by supporting co-education. Ideas are presented, such as comfort, discipline, and social interaction, though some are slightly underdeveloped or rely on sweeping generalizations, such as the claim that 'girls are more capable of scoring good marks as compared to boys.' Overall, the response meets the requirements of Band 6 because it addresses all parts of the task and presents a relevant position, despite some under-development of specific supporting points.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay is coherent overall with a clear logical arrangement into paragraphs: an introduction, a body paragraph supporting single-sex schools, a body paragraph supporting co-education, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'On the positive side,' 'On the negative side,' and 'In conclusion.' However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, such as the repetitive use of conditional structures like 'if... then...' throughout the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. These features align well with the Band 6 descriptors.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common words and phrases such as 'phenomenon,' 'detrimental effects,' and 'co-education.' However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'Personallly,' 'seperately,' 'existanae,' 'detriminal,' and 'Nontheless.' Additionally, phrases like 'one will lack behind the other one' show awkward collocation and grammatical misuse of vocabulary ('lack' instead of 'lag'). These errors do not seriously impede communication but restrict the score to a Band 5.5, which rounds to 5.5 or places firmly in Band 6 depending on severity; given the frequency of misspellings, Band 5.5 is appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional clauses ('if girls and boys will study separately...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and auxiliary verbs, such as 'society treat' instead of 'society treats,' 'girls from female tutors' instead of 'girls by female tutors,' 'it would be more easy' instead of 'it would be easier,' and the incorrect use of the future tense in conditional clauses ('if girls and boys will study'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but grammatical inaccuracies occur frequently across complex structures, keeping the response at a Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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