Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some societies, stress is now regarded as a major problem, and it is thought that people suffer from more stress than they did in the past. However, others feel that the amount of stress people have today is exaggerated. They say that previous generations were under more pressure, but the idea of suffering from stress did not exist.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The people in past may suffers alot of problems which maybe so hard but couldn't reach today's issues depth. People in past may struggle for a good jobs ..females struggle for studies and marriage and may have after marriage problems like 24/7 household issues but today's generation is suffering from many things not only 3-4 . The studies that were enough in past , has no value in current time . The more we gain study , the more good future we will have ..so in this case many adults has to leave their own country for good jobs or better career in abroad . If someone is poor in 20th century , it is the most hard time for him , prices of everything including food items , wearing clothes , shoe , stationary are high up to the skylight. The main issue this generation is facing is present in their own homes which is their parent's old mindset - their parents can't walk right with society.. they're narrow minded and have old thinking which also breaks this generation's many dreams . They don't get the privacy , forced to marriages .This cause them the biggest Issue that affects their mental and physical health Which is called "Stress" which may turn anxiety and panic attacks. I'm pretty sure old generations didn't face anything like this and their health was never disturbed due to their little issues that's why they don't trust a word like stress and depression. There is a bright contrast between past generation and today's generation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both views, but the development is uneven. While you present arguments for both sides, the ideas are often presented as lists of assertions rather than fully developed arguments. For example, the discussion on 'old mindsets' is relevant but lacks specific examples or a clear link to the broader concept of societal stress. Your own opinion is present but could be more clearly articulated and integrated into the structure. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that your points are supported by logical reasoning or illustrative examples rather than just personal observations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure; it is written as a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. Paragraphing is essential in IELTS writing to separate different viewpoints and your own opinion. Furthermore, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'in this case' or 'there is a bright contrast' are used, but the transitions between sentences are often abrupt. To reach a higher band, you must organize your response into distinct paragraphs (Introduction, Body Paragraph 1, Body Paragraph 2, Conclusion) and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'good jobs' or 'hard time', and there are several instances of awkward word choice, such as 'prices... are high up to the skylight' (which is not a standard idiom). There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'the more we gain study'. To improve, focus on learning collocations (words that naturally go together) and using more academic vocabulary to express complex ideas, rather than relying on informal or repetitive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('people in past may suffers'), article usage ('in 20th century'), and sentence structure (run-on sentences and fragmented thoughts). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. For instance, 'The more we gain study, the more good future we will have' is a flawed attempt at a comparative structure. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and using correct punctuation. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb tenses will significantly improve your score.

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

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