Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The most important aim of science should be to improve people’s lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answers and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

I fully agree with the statement that,'the most important aim of science should be to improve people's lives.' Science has helped humans in various ways.Let's take a look at an example of this type of improvement. Earlier, the transportation was by walking or horse-riding, later invention of wheel happened that led to development of horse carts, later cycles ,then trains and now we have aeroplanes and cars which can drive automatically.

Major role played by science is expanding a person's span life.For example, newborn babies often died due to various diseases like polio in the past.One of the most important inventions was vaccines which helped the child to fight and live and not die early.Similarly, the invention of penicillin, treating cancer and many more has helped a person's in improving their life.

Lastly, to conclude one of the most famous improvements of all is the mobile phones.The old mode of communication was letter exchanging or via pigeons but now we can just FaceTime a person from anywhere in the world and talk in seconds.It took days to communicate now th same communication is done in seconds.

Hence, every coin has two sides some people might agree with the statement that science can improve people's lives whereas some might disagree on it.It is because the science developed with a good intention can be misused.For example, the invention of nuclear energy is a good alternative source of energy but it is being used for nuclear bombing which is can sweep a whole population in a few seconds. Thus, using science for right purpose is what one should follow.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed the prompt by taking a clear position and providing relevant examples, such as transportation, medical advancements, and communication technology. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention nuclear energy in the final paragraph, this point is introduced very late and feels like an afterthought rather than a fully integrated part of your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting points are more thoroughly explained and that the counter-argument is balanced more effectively with your main position throughout the essay, rather than being relegated to the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices like 'For example' and 'Similarly', but the transitions between sentences and paragraphs can be mechanical. For instance, the jump from medical advancements to mobile phones is abrupt. Additionally, the final paragraph introduces a new perspective ('every coin has two sides') that contradicts your initial clear agreement, which affects the overall logical progression. Improving the use of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly would enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'advancements', 'communication', and 'alternative source'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'expanding a person's span life' instead of 'extending a person's lifespan' and 'the same communication is done in seconds'. There is also a lack of more sophisticated or academic vocabulary that would elevate the essay. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise academic terminology to express your ideas with greater clarity and style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally hinder the flow. Examples include missing articles ('invention of wheel', 'treating cancer'), incorrect verb forms ('which is can sweep'), and punctuation errors (spacing after commas and periods). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage to ensure your writing is more polished and accurate.

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

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