Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-13
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 5.0)
Some Individuals thinks that formal learning dominates the educational system at the primary level and i am agree with this statement up to some extent.
Formal learning is good option in primary school but most of children gets bored by taking classes simultaneously and some children were good in one subject while others good in another subjects so in formal learning the educational system treat the students in the same way which is not according to my perspective. Like if one kid is good math's and other one is good in literature the formal learning treat these students equally.
Playing in school is important factor for children in primary school because playing in classroom they learn how to solve certain problems and make children socially acceptable. If children plays in classroom they learn how to make friends and then helping each other during learning.
Playing in classroom develops so much qualities in children like they learn how to compete with each other or how to help each other and they also learn how to complete a simple task in group.
In short playing in classroom have positive impact on children on children and i am not fully agreed with formal learning.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You give a relevant, though qualified, position: formal learning is useful, but you agree only to some extent that it dominates, and you explain why play matters. The points about children becoming bored, having different strengths, learning to solve problems, and developing social skills address both questions. However, the position is not fully clear in the conclusion, which says you are “not fully agreed with formal learning,” and several ideas are asserted rather than explained with a specific example. The response also contains 201 words, below the required 250, so the discussion is limited and parts of the task are only partially developed. Clarify exactly what balance you support and extend each main point with an example or explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a basic overall structure: it introduces your view, gives reasons against relying only on formal lessons, explains benefits of play, and ends with a summary. This makes the main line of thought understandable. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and several points repeat, particularly the claims that play helps children socially and teaches them to help one another. Linking phrases such as “because,” “Like,” and “In short” are used, but connections between ideas are sometimes abrupt; the example about children being good at different subjects is not clearly tied to a proposed alternative to formal learning. Organise the body around distinct reasons, use clearer references, and explain how each example supports your position.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “formal learning,” “primary school,” “solve certain problems,” “socially acceptable,” and “compete.” However, the range is limited and some wording is repetitive, especially repeated uses of “playing,” “learn,” and “children.” Several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “formal learning dominates the educational system,” “good option,” and “positive impact on children on children.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding your general meaning, but they make the argument less precise and fluent. Build a wider set of expressions for classroom activities and child development, and check collocations and word forms when revising.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with reasons, for example, “Playing in school is important factor … because …,” so there is some effort to connect ideas in more complex structures. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences awkward or difficult to follow. Examples include “Some Individuals thinks,” “i am agree,” “most of children gets bored,” and “If children plays.” There are also problems with articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries, as in the long sentence beginning “Like if one kid…”. Use a reliable subject–verb pattern, review articles and plurals, and practise punctuating longer sentences. Aim for accurate simple sentences before adding more complex clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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