Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-13
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In some countries today, there is an attitude that 'anyone can do it' in the arts - music, literature, acting, art, etc. As a result, people with no talent become rich and famous and genuine talent is not valued or appreciated.
Do you agree or disagree?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Nowadays in various countries, there is a belief of over confidence in some fields of arts due to which people with limited talent become wealthy and recognized while authentic talent is devalued. I partly agree with this view because social media have made it easier for people with limited talent to become famous, but genuine talent is still highly valued in many areas of the arts.
On the one hand, some untalented people are gaining fame and popularity having no such artistic skills. Getting fame on social media is now straight forward and people just need an ordinary cilp to catch thousands of followers. Consequently, viral contents can sometimes are very important for the attraction of people then the actual artistic ability. For example, some people make foolish videos and acheive millions of followers, despite having little artistic experiences or abilities.
On the other hand, due to some of the untalented aspects it does not mean that the actual talent loosed its value. People are still respected in various fields like music, literature, acting or painting still having some sort of fame and success in their hands. For long-term success degnity and hard work is needed and their genuinely talented approch is however valued. For instance, a singer with true talent may remain successful for many years because people appreciate their ability, not merely their popularity.
In conclusion, although modern media has enabled some people with limited talent to get fame, I believe genuine artistic ability continues to be valued and rewarded for actual people.
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 response addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position that acknowledges both sides of the issue. The introduction clearly states that the writer 'partly agree[s] with this view'. The body paragraphs present relevant ideas regarding social media fame and the enduring value of genuine artistic talent, supporting them with examples such as viral video creators and dedicated singers. However, some arguments lack deeper extension or more robust development. For instance, the explanation of how viral content overshadows artistic ability remains somewhat general. Nevertheless, the position is maintained throughout, satisfying the requirements for Band 6.5 or 6, where the task is appropriately addressed with relevant main ideas, though some areas could benefit from more thorough elaboration and specific external evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organised into a logical structure with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs presenting contrasting views, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the phrase 'due to some of the untalented aspects' in the second body paragraph creates an awkward transition that impedes smooth comprehension. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct arguments, but the overall flow between sentences occasionally feels stilted. Despite these minor cohesive flaws, the arrangement remains coherent overall, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor where information is organised and a clear overall progression is discernible.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student attempts an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, incorporating words and phrases such as 'authentic talent', 'popularity', 'artistic ability', and 'dignity'. However, there are notable inaccuracies in word choice, spelling, and collocation. For example, 'cilp' is misspelled, 'straight forward' should be a single adjective, 'loosed' is incorrectly used instead of 'lost', 'approch' is misspelled, and phrases like 'having no such artistic skills' sound unnatural. Furthermore, 'untalented aspects' is used instead of referring to untalented individuals. While these lexical errors occur frequently, they do not impede communication since the reader can still grasp the intended meaning. This performance is characteristic of Band 6, featuring an adequate vocabulary range with attempts at less common items accompanied by noticeable spelling and word-choice errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety in structure. Examples of complex structures include 'although modern media has enabled some people with limited talent to get fame, I believe genuine artistic ability continues to be valued'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the text, such as 'there is a belief of over confidence', 'gaining fame and popularity having no such artistic skills', 'viral contents can sometimes are very important', and 'success degnity and hard work is needed'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but minor errors persist. These grammatical lapses occasionally create difficulty, yet they rarely impede overall communication. This places the grammar squarely in Band 6, reflecting a mix of sentence structures and persistent errors that do not block the transmission of ideas.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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