Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-09-29

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 6.5)

In many countries, boys and girls study together in the same schools. However, some people believe that they should be educated separately. I partly agree with this view because single-sex schools have some benefits, but mixed schools are also useful for students.

On the one hand, studying separately can help students concentrate on their studies. Teenagers can sometimes become distracted by the opposite gender, especially when they are young. In a single-sex school, students may feel more comfortable and focus more on their lessons. For example, some girls may feel more confident when answering questions in class if there are no boys around. This can help them participate more actively in their studies.

On the other hand, there are several benefits of co-educational schools. First, boys and girls can learn how to communicate and work with each other. In their future jobs, they will probably have to work with people of both genders. Therefore, studying together can prepare them for their professional lives. For example, students can work together on group projects and learn how to share ideas and responsibilities.

Another benefit is that mixed schools can help students understand each other better. Boys and girls can have different opinions and ways of thinking, so studying together gives them a chance to learn from each other. It can also help reduce misunderstandings between them.

In conclusion, I believe that both types of schools have advantages. Single-sex schools can help students concentrate, while co-educational schools can improve communication and teamwork. In my opinion, the benefits of studying together are slightly greater.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both sides of the argument and clearly stating the writer's position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported with explanations and examples, such as how single-sex schools help students concentrate or how co-educational schools prepare students for future workplaces. However, the development of ideas remains somewhat general and lacks deeper extension, which keeps it within Band 7. The position is clear throughout, and the writer maintains a consistent stance, eventually concluding that mixed schools offer slightly greater benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. The essay is structured well into distinct paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. The introduction sets out the background and the writer's stance, followed by well-defined body paragraphs utilizing clear signal phrases such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, though referencing and transitions could be slightly more varied and sophisticated to reach a higher band. Overall, paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision (e.g., 'concentrate', 'distracted', 'professional lives', 'misunderstandings'). There are successful attempts to use less common items and collocations, such as 'co-educational schools' and 'share ideas and responsibilities'. While the vocabulary is generally well-chosen and natural, it occasionally relies on standard or slightly repetitive terms (e.g., 'study together', 'boys and girls') rather than a wider, more sophisticated lexical variety. Spelling and word choice are accurate, causing no strain to the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully employs complex structures, such as conditional or dependent clauses (e.g., 'Teenagers can sometimes become distracted by the opposite gender, especially when they are young'). The majority of sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. While there are a few minor slips or repetitive sentence patterns, grammar and punctuation errors are rare and do not impede communication at all, showing solid control of the structures attempted.

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

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