Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Momentum Workout · 2026-11-03

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)

It is often argued by some people that boys and girls are educated in mixed schools in many parts of the world. While some people argue that girls and boys benefit from being educated in single-sex schools. Both these educations have their own benefits. However, I strongly believe that co-education is more beneficial than single-sex schools because it teaches students for their practical life.

There are multiple benefits associated with the mixed schools because it teaches children mutual respect. For example, in co-classes boys and girls come to know how to respect each other and especially, it trains boys to respect girls. Co-education also gives confidence to boys and girls because they can participate in class without any hesitation. It also develops practical skills among students and teaches students practical skills. For instance, team-work develops social skills among students and improves their communication skills. Thus, point proven that co-education is beneficial for males and females.

To commence with, single-sex schools also have some benefits. As students can concentrate more on studies rather than few distractions. In seperate schools there will be no distraction for students. It also gives confident to girls whor don't feel comfortable in boys class. For example, girls can openly participate in sports and other competitions because some parents don't allow girls to participate in co-functions. Hence, single-sex schools also have some benefits.

To sum up, both systems have their own benefits. But I believe that co-education is better because it prepares students for practical life and enhance their confidence.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear view that co-education is more beneficial, and you address both sides by discussing respect, confidence and social skills in mixed schools, as well as concentration and participation in single-sex schools. However, several points are asserted rather than fully explained: the claim that mixed classes build respect, for example, would be stronger with a specific situation or clearer explanation of how this benefit develops. The conclusion repeats your position but does not add much synthesis. The response is also 245 words, five words below the required minimum; the eight words copied from the prompt are excluded from the count. Develop your examples and reasoning further to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two school types, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow your comparison. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak or repetitive. In the mixed-school paragraph, “develops practical skills” is immediately repeated as “teaches students practical skills,” while “Thus, point proven” does not clearly connect the preceding examples to a developed conclusion. Some linking phrases, such as “To commence with” and “Hence,” feel mechanical, and the opening sentence is awkwardly connected to the next fragment beginning “While.” Use clearer topic sentences, avoid repeating the same point, and make each example lead logically to the claim it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “mutual respect,” “concentrate,” “participate,” and “communication skills,” so your meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repetitive or imprecise. “Practical skills” appears twice in close succession, and “co-functions” is unclear in the context of school activities. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “seperate” and “confident” where the intended noun is confidence. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling and word forms; this will make your ideas easier to understand and less repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex structures, such as “because it teaches students for their practical life” and “because some parents don't allow girls to participate,” alongside simpler sentences. However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur often enough to affect fluency. The opening uses a sentence fragment: “While some people argue that girls and boys benefit from being educated in single-sex schools.” There is also a subject–verb agreement error in “co-education … enhance their confidence,” and the construction “As students can concentrate more…” is left as a fragment. Practise joining dependent clauses to complete sentences, and check agreement and sentence boundaries. More accurate control of these patterns would make your argument clearer.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.