Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-10-25

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)

This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe girls and boys should be educated in a co-educational or mixed school. To some extent, some people also believe that if they prefer single-sex schools, then that will benefit the students.

On the one hand, in this modern world, people now think about freedom and equality, where both individuals, irrespective of gender, do the same work. If we talk about working in offices, they consist of both males and females. So I think if they study in a mixed school, their perspective might change, and they can gain the experience of talking to the other sex and being comfortable around them, which is very much required. So this really benefits you and gives you the advantage of knowing how to talk to someone and being less shy.

On the other hand, people from small towns believe that studying in a single-sex school is more comfortable and beneficial to their children because they think that if all students study in one place, there can be some danger for the girls, especially because of less education. But they positively think like this to protect their girl child from being mistreated by boys. Because that is what they saw from their childhood, so they think like that.

In conclusion, I would like to say that in today's world, it is very important that males have female interaction and vice versa. And now the tables have changed and single-sex school may not be that beneficial then it was before.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you favour mixed schools, and you address both the perceived benefits of co-education and the reasons some families prefer single-sex education. The point about becoming comfortable interacting with the other sex is relevant, as is the concern that parents may want to protect girls. However, the discussion is only partly developed. For example, the claim that mixed schooling is “very much required” is not supported with a specific example or fuller explanation, while the single-sex argument is mainly attributed to people from small towns and their fears. Develop each side with more balanced reasoning, then explain more directly why your position outweighs the opposing view. This would make the response more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs signposted by “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. This makes the main direction easy to follow. Some connections, however, are mechanical or unclear. The opening repeats the idea of discussing both perspectives, and “So” and “Because” begin sentences that do not connect smoothly to the preceding points. In the second body paragraph, the shift from parents’ concerns to “because that is what they saw from their childhood” is not fully explained. Use linking phrases more selectively and make the relationship between each claim and its explanation explicit. A clearer progression within paragraphs would strengthen the otherwise coherent structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate your main ideas, including “co-educational,” “single-sex,” “freedom and equality,” and “interaction.” However, the range is limited, and several expressions are vague, repetitive, or not quite natural for an academic essay. “The other sex” and “talking to someone” are imprecise in this context, while “protect their girl child” sounds awkward and “the tables have changed” does not clearly express your intended point. Repeated use of “think” also limits variety. Aim for more precise terms for social interaction, parental concerns, and educational benefits, and choose collocations that state your meaning directly. This would make the argument clearer and more appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional and relative structures such as “if they study in a mixed school” and “which is very much required.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some sentence forms and punctuation need closer control. For example, “To some extent, some people also believe that if they prefer single-sex schools, then that will benefit the students” is awkwardly constructed, and “Because that is what they saw from their childhood” is a fragment. In the conclusion, “single-sex school may not be that beneficial then it was before” has an incorrect comparison structure. Practise joining dependent clauses to complete sentences and checking articles, verb forms, and comparisons. More consistently controlled complex sentences would improve accuracy.

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

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