Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-16
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 relieve of international tours and all types of mass media providing information have increased the accessibility to the data of people living around the world.
The digital advancements and the internet have made it smoother to pass information around the globe at a high pace. For example, a person living in an island like Maldives can get an update about the economic conditions of USA through the digital platforms and the use of internet. Adding on, visiting different countries by getting tickets and visas at home has made travelling smoother through which anyone can experience how people in distinguish countries live. For instance , a Singaporean have visa free entry to majority of the countries that enhances accessibility and gives the chance to experience cultures of different countries.
On the other hand, believing on mass media is not a reliable decision as many media platforms try to gain TRP through fake news. For example, people living in Pakistan claim that majority of the media highlights that the country's condition is deteriorating and it is not matching the living standards of people while posting evidence on social media. Moreover, travelling is not easy for everyone since it is not an affordable option. For instance, a person meeting day to day expenditures can not afford travelling to another country to see how people in another country live.
It is said that travelling around the world and relying on mass media makes it easier for the people to know about the conditions of different countries. In my opinion the drawbacks outweighs the benefits of this idea.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing the ease of international travel and mass media and taking a clear position that the drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Ideas are introduced, such as the spread of digital information and the financial barriers to travel, and supported with examples like the Maldives and a Singaporean passport holder. However, some arguments feel somewhat under-developed or general, such as the brief mention of fake news and media sensationalism, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction through to the conclusion, satisfying the main requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding stance. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different arguments, with body paragraph two focusing on travel and media advantages, and body paragraph three discussing disadvantages like fake news and costs. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty. Phrases like 'Adding on' and 'believing on mass media' sound unnatural or lack smooth integration. Referencing and logical transition markers could be used with greater flexibility to ensure a more seamless progression of ideas throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items and subject-related terms such as 'digital advancements', 'accessibility', and 'deteriorating'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations that impact precision, such as 'The relieve of international tours' instead of 'relief' or 'ease', 'smoother to pass information', and 'believing on mass media' instead of 'relying on'. These inaccuracies show limitations in word choice and collocation control, placing the response firmly at the Band 6 level for lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at varied structures such as 'For example, a person living in an island like Maldives can get an update...'. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, including 'an Singaporean' instead of 'a Singaporean', 'a person meeting day to day expenditures can not afford travelling', and article omissions. While these errors are noticeable and require the reader to occasionally pause, they do not severely impede overall communication, allowing the essay to achieve a solid Band 6 for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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