Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries these days, the number of people continuing their education after school has increased, and the range of courses available at universities and colleges has also increased.

Do you think this is a positive or negative development?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Now adays the students pursing higher education has seen a major increase as more and more students want to get skills that are in demand.

This how ever pressured the universities and colleges to introduce new courses and more sections as well. I believe that this has a positive development because it will bring more diversity in the society.

On the one hand the more students increase in taking admission to universities. It will burden them to hire more teachers and this in return means to increase the fees as well. This will indirectly affect the children.

Additionally, if there aren't any talented lecturers in the facility then this harms the education of the students because they loss the passion of studying that subject and choosing it in the future.

On the other hand by having more students taking interest in continuing their education shows that the literacy rate is rising and it will bring more talented young minds on the work filed. This also helps the future generations as well, by having people of different background the choices for future growth expands because they act as role models to them.

I believe that by having more children it increase the demand on universities to increase their standard on multiple levels not just one course. It also has ripple affect on the government level because it tells them that a specific area need a proper higher education facility. This then creates bright future where any student can pick his or her favourite subject without a worry of it not being available.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the positive and negative aspects of the increase in higher education. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you clearly state your position that it is a positive development, the arguments regarding the burden on universities and the potential for poor teaching quality are not fully extended. For instance, the point about 'talented lecturers' is mentioned but lacks a concrete example or deeper explanation of how this impacts society. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a specific example or a more detailed logical explanation that directly links back to the overall positive or negative impact.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'On the other hand' to transition between ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the logical flow is slightly disrupted, such as in the second paragraph where the transition from university fees to the impact on children is abrupt. Furthermore, some sentences are slightly disjointed, making the progression of ideas feel a bit repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next will enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant terms such as 'literacy rate', 'diversity', and 'higher education'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'work filed' instead of 'workforce' and 'loss the passion' instead of 'lose the passion'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on common phrases rather than more sophisticated or academic collocations. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and pay closer attention to word forms and common collocations to avoid these minor errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'Now adays the students pursing' (spelling and missing preposition), 'This how ever pressured' (punctuation and word choice), and 'it increase the demand' (subject-verb agreement). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To achieve a higher score, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, punctuation (specifically with transition words), and sentence construction. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring they are error-free will also help improve your score.

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

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