Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-15

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 5.0)

In different countries, youngsters are taught together in school. Some argue that there should be separate educational institutions for both. Although co-education has many benefits, this essay completely agrees with the former view that separate schools for both genders can be more beneficial for them, as it minimizes distractions and the pressure of performance for both genders.

Boys and girls who are educated in different schools have more benefits, as there are fewer hurdles for them. For instance, many students were extra talented, but because of the problems of co-education, they can't achieve much in life. In contrast, pupils who study in single-sex schools focus more on their studies. They are not attracted to the opposite gender during study time, and they can also focus on other activities as well. Furthermore, they participate in sports as well. It is evident that girls and boys benefit from being educated separately in single-sex schools.

Another compelling factor is performance. It is seen that children who are taught separately

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

Your position is clear: you support single-sex education, and you give two relevant reasons—fewer distractions and less pressure around performance. However, the response addresses the task only minimally because both reasons are asserted rather than explained with specific examples or developed consequences. For instance, “they can’t achieve much in life” is a broad claim, and the second body paragraph stops after “children who are taught separately,” leaving the performance argument unfinished. The response also contains 154 words, which is 96 words below the required minimum; 13 words copied from the prompt were excluded from that count. To develop the answer, explain how single-sex schooling affects learning or performance and support each point with a relevant example, while completing the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic overall structure: an introduction states your view, followed by a paragraph about distractions and the beginning of a paragraph about performance. Linking expressions such as “Although,” “For instance,” and “Furthermore” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression is limited because the first body paragraph moves between academic focus, attraction, and sports without explaining how these points relate, and the final paragraph ends mid-sentence. The repeated conclusion-like statement, “It is evident that girls and boys benefit,” also does not add a new step to the argument. Use one paragraph for each fully explained reason, connect each example directly to its main point, and finish with a concluding paragraph that restates your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of relevant vocabulary, including “co-education,” “single-sex schools,” “distractions,” and “performance,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “Another compelling factor.” However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, including “have more benefits,” “fewer hurdles,” and “extra talented.” “Problems of co-education” is vague, while “attracted to the opposite gender during study time” is an awkward way to describe distraction. These choices limit precision even though the reader can understand the main ideas. Aim for more exact academic collocations, such as “may benefit from,” “face fewer distractions,” and “highly capable students,” and specify what the alleged problems are.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You show some variety in sentence forms, including a concessive opening (“Although co-education has many benefits…”) and a complex sentence beginning “For instance.” Most of the completed sentences communicate their basic meaning. However, control is uneven in places: “many students were extra talented, but … they can’t achieve” shifts from past to present without a clear reason, and “Boys and girls … have more benefits, as there are fewer hurdles for them” uses a broad, loosely connected clause. The final sentence fragment, “Another compelling factor is performance. It is seen that children who are taught separately,” is incomplete and leaves the grammatical structure unfinished. Check tense consistency and ensure every sentence has a complete main clause; completing the essay would also allow you to demonstrate a wider range of accurate structures.

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

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