Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26

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)

To commence with, mass media exposure and ease of travel access provide us a idea about foreign job-market trends. If a software engineer want to settled in foreign he can easily search the job market scope according to their skills people before moving abroad. For example, A software engineer planning to move to another country can check online job portals and professional websites to find out whether their skills are in demand. Moreover, they can search for wide variety of accommodation through online advertisement postings. Online media make it easier for people to provide options according to different living conditions. To elaborate this, A person planning to move Canada can easily compare the rental prices and choose an area that suits their budget and lifestyle. Consequently, it helps them make wiser decision before actually moving to abroad.

On the other hand, exposure to foreign culture hinder the key local tradition and preference. people may become more attracted to foreign fashion, lifestyle and fashion and gradually loss interest in their own tradition.

For instance, young people in developing countries may increasingly adopt Western fashion and eating habits after repeatedly seeing them on social media, while traditional clothing and local cuisine become less popular. In addition to this, mass media often shows an idealized version of abroad life and people set unrealistic expectations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address both the advantages and disadvantages, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient depth or specific examples to fully explore the prompt. The position is clear, but the brevity prevents a thorough discussion. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you reach the required length to allow for a comprehensive response that fully addresses all parts of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into two main paragraphs, which is a logical structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Consequently', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by the lack of depth and abrupt transitions. Paragraphing is present, but the overall flow feels somewhat mechanical due to the limited development of the arguments. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, well-supported central theme.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on somewhat basic phrasing, such as 'provide us a idea' and 'wiser decision'. There are also some repetitive word choices, such as using 'fashion' twice in the same sentence. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to globalization and cultural exchange. Avoiding repetitive phrasing and focusing on more precise word choices will help elevate your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'If a software engineer want to settled' (should be 'wants to settle'), 'move Canada' (should be 'move to Canada'), and 'moving to abroad' (should be 'moving abroad'). You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, preposition usage, and verb forms. Proofreading for these common errors will help you achieve a higher level of grammatical control.

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

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