Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The best way to provide enough homes in large cities is to build tall apartment blocks.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Many students choose to study law at university because they believe it offers a prestigious and rewarding career. Lawyers are often regarded as intelligent, persuasive and influential members of society. However, becoming a successful lawyer requires more than academic knowledge, and the profession can be highly demanding.

There are several reasons why law attracts university students. To begin with, it is generally considered a prestigious profession and can provide graduates with relatively strong career prospects. Many students are also drawn to law because they enjoy debating, analysing complicated issues and defending their opinions. Furthermore, studying law can open doors to a wide range of careers, including legal practice, politics, business and public administration. For some students, however, the main motivation is the opportunity to uphold justice and protect people's rights, particularly when they have witnessed or learned about social injustice.

To become a successful lawyer, certain personal qualities are essential. Excellent communication skills are particularly important because lawyers must present arguments clearly and persuade judges, clients or opposing parties. They also need strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to examine large amounts of information and identify the most convincing arguments. In addition, attention to detail is crucial, as even a small error in a legal document can have serious consequences. Finally, successful lawyers should possess integrity, patience and emotional resilience, since they frequently deal with sensitive issues and challenging clients.

I largely agree that working in the legal profession is stressful. Lawyers often have to meet strict deadlines, handle several cases simultaneously and make decisions that may have significant consequences for their clients. In addition, some lawyers work long hours, particularly when preparing for major trials or complex negotiations. Nevertheless, the level of stress varies considerably depending on the area of law and the individual's ability to manage pressure. A well-organised lawyer with a manageable workload may experience considerably less stress than someone working in a highly competitive legal environment.

In conclusion, students are attracted to law because of its prestige, career opportunities and potential to contribute to society. Although successful lawyers need a combination of intellectual, communication and personal skills, the profession can undoubtedly be stressful because of its demanding workload and high level of responsibility.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for an opinion on whether building tall apartment blocks is the best way to provide housing in large cities. However, the essay discusses why students choose to study law and the challenges of the legal profession. Because the response fails to address the specific task prompt entirely, it cannot be assessed for task achievement in relation to the question asked. It is a well-written essay on a completely different subject, but it does not fulfill the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-structured with clear paragraphing and logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, and cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. The internal structure of the argument regarding the legal profession is coherent and easy to follow. While the content is irrelevant to the prompt, the writing itself demonstrates a high level of control over paragraphing and logical flow, which would be appropriate for a higher band if the topic were relevant.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is varied and precise, demonstrating a good range of academic language. Phrases such as 'prestigious and rewarding career', 'uphold justice', 'social injustice', and 'emotional resilience' are used accurately and in appropriate contexts. The writer shows a good ability to use less common lexical items to express complex ideas. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient to convey the writer's points clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Examples of complex structures include 'Many students are also drawn to law because they enjoy debating, analysing complicated issues and defending their opinions.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a solid grasp of English grammar, with most sentences being error-free.

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