Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is sometimes argued that primary schools should play games to increase the learning effect on children instead of focus to much on formal learning. I agree, because it is proven in literature that a child has a higher learning curve when they are learning with games.

In my opinion, primary schools should add subjects like "Learning through Games", because I think that the interactive part of playing a game has a different affect on the brain compared to formal learning. Children are used to write exams and learn how to reproduce the content from the lectures formally. For instance, a children in primary school in Germany is used to calculate numbers and memorise patterns in languages and the grading is based on the reproduction of that in the exam. In that example the brain is just forced to think and learn on the same usual way and isn't used to think interactive in which the effect of learning is higher.

Another argument is that interactive learning through games, reflects more real life situations than formal learning. The reason children are going to primary school is to prepare for the real life after that. Therefore there is no reason why it shouldn't learn with games that are close to situations in real life. For example, in my opinion a children is better prepared for real life, when it is learning with games which reflect real life situations. It would be unrational in today's generation to just rely on formal learning.

All in all, i argue that interactive learning through games has a different and positive affect on the brain than learning with formal structure. In addition to that with interactive learning the children have a better preparation for the real life after primary school.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you agree that primary schools should give children more opportunities to learn through play, and you provide two relevant reasons—games may support learning and can reflect real-life situations. The examples about memorising patterns and learning through games help connect your ideas to primary education. However, the task also asks directly how important play is alongside learning. Your response mainly argues for games instead of formal learning, so it does not fully explain how play and formal instruction should be balanced. The claim that games improve learning is repeated but not supported with a specific example or explanation of how a game teaches a skill. Clarifying the balance and developing one example in more detail would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting separate reasons, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “Another argument” and “All in all” make the progression easy to follow, and each paragraph has a recognisable focus. This already gives the essay a coherent arrangement. To make the connections more flexible and precise, avoid relying on formulaic transitions and make the relationship between claims and examples clearer. For instance, the Germany example is introduced with “For instance,” but the explanation that follows is difficult to connect to the claim about interactive thinking. The conclusion also repeats the two main points rather than drawing them together into a clear statement about how play should complement formal learning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “interactive learning,” “formal learning,” “reproduce the content,” and “real life situations.” These phrases allow you to communicate your main ideas, and there is some attempt to use more specific language than basic terms such as “learn.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “increase the learning effect,” “higher learning curve,” and “different affect on the brain.” Repetition of “learning,” “games,” and “real life” also limits flexibility. Aim to use more precise educational vocabulary and check common word partnerships; this will make your argument sound clearer and more natural without changing its meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including explanations with “because,” “when,” and “which,” and the overall meaning is generally understandable. Some sentences are controlled, such as “The reason children are going to primary school is to prepare for the real life after that.” However, there are some recurring errors in agreement, articles, and sentence construction. Examples include “a children,” “it shouldn't learn,” and “the children have a better preparation”; these should be revised to match the intended plural or singular subject. The opening sentence also has an awkward structure, and the final paragraph begins “i” without a capital letter. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and proofread punctuation and capitalization while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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