Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-14

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)

Some people believe that primary schools focus too much on formal learning, such as reading, writing and mathematics. I partly agree with this opinion because education is important, but children also need time to play and enjoy thier childhood

On the one hand, formal education is very important for young children. At primary school, students learn basic skill which help them in thier future life. For example, reading helps them understand books and instructions, while mathematics is useful for shopping and managing money. If schools do not teach these subjects, children may face difficulties in their higher classes. Therefore, teachers should make sure that every child get a strong education foundation.

On other hand, i think that playing is eqally important in the primary classroom. Children are not machines, and studying for many hours can make them bored and tired. Games, sports and creative activity helps them to stay active and improve their confidence. They learn teamwork, communication and how to solve problems with others. For instance, when childrenplay a team game,they understand how to play a team game, they understand how to share, follow rules and

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear, relevant position by saying, “I partly agree,” and address both formal learning and the value of play. The examples about reading, mathematics, teamwork and sharing support your main points. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the discussion is brief, several ideas are asserted rather than explained, and the second question—how important play is in the classroom—needs a fuller answer. The final example is cut off, leaving the point about teamwork and following rules incomplete, and there is no conclusion to restate your view. The response is 178 words, below the required 250 words; the nine words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Develop each reason with explanation or a specific example, and complete the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction followed by contrasting paragraphs signposted with “On the one hand” and “On other hand.” This helps the reader follow the two sides of your argument. However, progression is limited because the essay ends during an example, without a concluding paragraph, and the second body paragraph repeats the idea of playing a team game rather than completing its explanation. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly the unfinished sequence “they understand how to play a team game, they understand how to share…” Use a clear topic sentence for each paragraph, develop one example fully, and add a conclusion that brings the argument together. These changes would make the organisation more complete and the connections between ideas smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “formal learning,” “higher classes,” “confidence,” “teamwork” and “communication.” These choices suit the topic, and the examples make your meaning generally clear. However, the range is limited and some wording is repetitive or imprecise: “important” appears several times, and “creative activity” is not a natural plural phrase in this context. Spelling errors such as “thier” and “eqally,” along with the joined form “childrenplay,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise alternatives and check spelling and word forms carefully. For example, you could describe play as supporting children’s “social development” and refer to “creative activities” rather than repeating general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple sentences and more complex forms, including the conditional “If schools do not teach these subjects, children may face difficulties” and the contrast between formal learning and play. These structures help express reasons and consequences. However, errors occur in basic agreement, articles, capitalisation and punctuation: “basic skill which help” should use a plural noun and matching verb, “every child get” needs a singular verb, and “On other hand” requires an article. The final sentence is incomplete and contains a repeated clause, so it is difficult to follow. Use a wider range of sentence patterns while checking subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries; complete each sentence before moving to the next idea.

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