Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people argue that primary schools focus too much on formal learning.

To what extent do you agree with this opinion?

How important do you think it is for children to play as well as learn in the primary school classroom?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Formal learning focuses mostly on the idea that students should be keen in studying throughout their curriculum. Some people feel that primary schools are more into formal learning methods.

Overall, there are pros and cons of this method. Children in primary schools are too young to focus only on learning. Definitely, education plays a key role in childs upbringing as it helps students to be responsible citizen and to become better human being. Students who focus on learning are surely good in manners.Moreover, knowledge being a power can help them lead confidentially.

However, playing in the schools is also significant such as it enhances the leadrships skills dramatically. It also increases the ability of students to cope up with different losses.For instance, students who participate in extracurricular activities have considerably more importance of time. They become passionate and help each other.

Comparitively, students who play as well as study become relaxed and stress free as compared to the ones who focus solely on studies. Students who study the whole day become lazy and pressurized over the period of time.

In my opinion, a balanced approach is always significant. As both learning and playing pay an important role in the life of students. To adjust in the society students should be good in both studies as well as sports activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions by discussing formal study and the value of play, and your final position—that children need a balance—is clear. Relevant points include play developing leadership and helping pupils feel less stressed. However, the response only partly develops the argument: the claim that students who focus on learning become “good in manners” is not explained, and the example about extracurricular activities does not clearly show how play benefits classroom learning. The opening also describes formal learning rather than directly stating how far you agree that schools focus too much on it. The response is 219 words, below the required 250, so there is limited space to explain and support your ideas. Develop each main point with a clear reason and a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, paragraphs about learning and play, a comparison, and a concluding opinion. Linking expressions such as “However,” “For instance,” and “In my opinion” help signal shifts in the discussion. At times, though, progression is uneven: the paragraph beginning “Overall” moves from the pros and cons of formal learning to manners and citizenship without a clear connection, while “Comparitively” introduces a comparison that could be integrated more smoothly with the previous point. Some links are also mechanical, and the conclusion repeats the balanced approach without summarising the reasons. Use topic sentences to establish each paragraph’s focus, then connect each example explicitly to that focus.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “curriculum,” “extracurricular activities,” “leadership skills,” and “stress free,” and the reader can generally understand your intended meaning. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “lead confidentially,” “more importance of time,” and “cope up with different losses.” Spelling errors in “leadrships” and “Comparitively” also reduce accuracy. Some expressions, including “knowledge being a power,” sound unnatural in this context. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than choosing ambitious words that do not fit the meaning. For example, explain that play can build teamwork or resilience, and that pupils can learn to manage their time.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “education … as it helps students” and a comparison beginning “Students who play as well as study.” Most ideas remain understandable, but errors occur in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation. For example, “As both learning and playing pay an important role” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, and “a responsible citizen” should agree with the plural “students.” The phrases “in childs upbringing” and “better human being” also need appropriate articles or plural forms. Missing spaces after full stops, as in “manners.Moreover” and “losses.For,” make the writing harder to read. Practise checking each sentence for a complete main clause and consistent singular or plural forms.

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