Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-03

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The ease of international travel and the spread of various kinds of mass media all over the world have made it more possible than ever for people to know how other people live in other countries.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. Write at least 250 words.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The ease of international travel also the spread of various kinds of mass media around the world have made it more easier than ever for individuals to learn how other individuals live in other countries, which is beneficial because it gives the opportunity to learn new cultures and it broadens people's perspectives.

Learning new cultures is so important nowadays since traveling is easier. For example there was an exchange student from India that came to our school who adapted the school environment so easily because my friend and I researched the culture of India before she came to give her a good experience. So if it wasn't that easy to learn how people live in other countries we could've done something to offend her.

People don't try to broad their perspectives which is not good because it is more possible than old times to learn new things. For instance people can ask every small detail about everything to Ai and learn within minutes, however; people are not curious as they used to be. But it is important to know about other cultures to be more tolerant and respectful for not only human relations but also for personal development.

To conclude there are more advantages than disadvantages, people have to know about people live in other countries because it is important for personal development and also human relations to be more respectful and not be prejudice.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages of cultural awareness, but it fails to adequately explore the disadvantages, which is a requirement for a balanced argument. The position is clear, but the development of ideas is limited and somewhat repetitive. Furthermore, the response is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly impacts the depth of the analysis. To improve, you should ensure you provide a more comprehensive discussion of potential downsides, such as the loss of cultural identity or the superficiality of media-driven knowledge, and ensure the essay meets the length requirement to allow for full development of your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression between ideas is sometimes weak. While you use some cohesive devices like 'For example' and 'To conclude', the transitions between sentences are occasionally abrupt. For instance, the jump from the anecdote about the Indian student to the general discussion on AI feels disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that directly relates to the central argument. Improving the flow between your examples and your main points will help the reader follow your logic more effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'learn new cultures' and 'know about other people'. There are also some word-choice errors, such as 'broad their perspectives' (should be 'broaden') and 'not be prejudice' (should be 'prejudiced'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and academic vocabulary. Avoid repeating the same phrases and focus on using more precise terminology to express your ideas, which will make your writing sound more professional and academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'more easier' is a double comparative error, and 'adapted the school environment' should be 'adapted to'. There are also punctuation issues, such as the misuse of the semicolon in the third paragraph. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement, comparative forms, and correct preposition usage to improve your accuracy.

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

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