Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

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)

Several individuals believe that primary schools pay too much attention to formal theoretical learning while neglecting play. I partially agree with this view because academic education is essential for mental development, but at the same time play is beneficial for children’s physical and social growth.

Firstly, if primary schools focus enough on formal learning, it will be important for students to develop memory skills. Academic activities such as reading, writing, and speaking help an individual to increase memory power and understand the problem in a detailed manner. Secondly, it will increase the critical thinking and problem-solving capability of a student. For instance, courses such as mathematics encourage children to analyze problems, compare the different solutions, and reach a conclusion; all these contribute to enhancing the problem-solving abilities.

On the other hand, play will help children to improve physical health. Sports activities such as cricket and football encourage physical activities, which will help individuals to remain fit and healthy, that cannot be done with only studying. Additionally, play improves the social network of children. For instance, drama activity in school encourages an individual to participate and perform different roles, which makes a child interact with other people, making them socially active. Moreover, activities such as football and basketball encourage teamwork, communication, and leadership skills in a child.

To conclude, I believe formal learning helps children in terms of memory power and problem-solving ability. However, play maintains a healthy life and improves social networks. Schools should use a balanced approach of both formal learning and play that is required for health and career perspective.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the extent of agreement regarding formal learning and the importance of play. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as mathematics for critical thinking and sports for social skills. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; for instance, the benefits of sports are mentioned in two separate paragraphs. To reach a higher band, the arguments could be more deeply explored rather than simply listed. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing within paragraphs could be more fluid. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure supports the development of the argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. There is a sufficient range of topic-specific terms like 'formal theoretical learning', 'critical thinking', and 'social network'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'increase memory power' (better: 'enhance cognitive function' or 'improve memory retention'). To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more sophisticated vocabulary and precise collocations to express ideas with greater nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional structures ('if primary schools focus...') is accurate. However, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrasing, such as 'in terms of memory power' or 'from health and career perspective'. While the student shows an ability to construct complex sentences, the range of structures could be expanded to include more varied subordinate clauses and passive constructions.

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