Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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)

Nowadays, many people argue that primary school focusing too much on formal learning is becoming increasingly common. This essay will discuss to what extent I agree with this opinion and how important do you think it is for children to play as well as learn in the primary school classroom. Understanding both parts of this issue is vital for a comprehensive view of the situation. There are several reasons why this situation occurs, or various factors that answer why agree with this opinion. Children should have a balance between academic study and play.

Firstly, children need more time for sports and physical activities. Secondly, practical skills and teamwork are important for their future. For example in many schools, too much importance is given too formal academic subjects. Although these subjects are essential for children's education, this clearly demonstrates how these factors combine to create the current state of affairs.

Moreover, some effective steps can be taken. Firstly, playing also develops social and mental skills. Like Running sports and outdoor games help children stay active and develop physical skills. As a result, playing

also develops social and mental skills. When children play together, how they learn teamwork, cooperation, communication and problem solving. For instance, Team games such as football teach children how to cooperate and follow rules.

In conclusion, Formal education is necessary for a strong academic foundation. However, play is equally important for children's physical, social and emotional development. Therefore, primary schools should maintain a balance between study and play.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, acknowledging the debate on formal learning and the importance of play. However, the development is inconsistent. While the introduction sets up the discussion, the body paragraphs lack depth. For instance, the argument about 'practical skills and teamwork' is mentioned but not sufficiently explained or exemplified with specific, real-world detail. The essay relies on general statements like 'this clearly demonstrates how these factors combine,' which does not advance the argument. To reach a higher band, you need to provide more substantial evidence and fully explore the implications of your points rather than simply listing them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive. For example, the use of 'Firstly' and 'Moreover' is standard, but the transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt. There are instances where sentences do not flow logically, such as the repetition of 'playing also develops social and mental skills' in the third paragraph. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making the progression of ideas feel somewhat disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each sentence builds logically on the previous one would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'important' and 'good' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'primary school focusing too much' instead of 'the focus of primary schools on'. While the meaning is clear, the range is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'how they learn teamwork' (which should be 'how they learn teamwork' or 'they learn teamwork') and 'too formal academic subjects' (should be 'to formal'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters or missing necessary commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentence structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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