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)

Manners and etiquettes are taught in the schools to the children and they are also very important for them and their future. But along the study playing is also important for them even in the primary schools. I partially agree with the statement and it will be discussed in subsequent deliberations.

For a child, formal learning is a new thing and it is mainly being taught them in the schools as they have a motive there to learn the things and apply them in their daily life. But some of the schools are overly focusing on these to improve the memorization, literacy as well as academic results. it can result in physical and phycological issues to the children as they are forced to sit in the classrooms on the same desks for a long period of time. Apart from getting more intelligent they will be a victim of stress, anxiety or some other issues even the eight year old. Thus much pressure on the students for their studies can also cause problems to them.

Another prominent point is the co-curricular activities for the students to get a relief from the busy time table of 8 lectures. Inspiring the students to play games will not only improve their strength but also it will contribute to increase their focus towards studies and they will also show more creativeness. In the school, the children meets different kind of students to them but with the games, they come to know about each other as they interact with each other while playing. So it is important for the school authorities to make sure that the students may also get the time to play games as with the studies.

To conclude, the schools should not pressurise the children towards their study only but they should also be given some time to play games and get stress free.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

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. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention physical and psychological issues, the points could be supported with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The discussion on co-curricular activities is relevant but remains somewhat general. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully explored with concrete evidence or logical consequences rather than just stating the benefits or drawbacks.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Apart from', 'Thus', and 'Another prominent point'. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'it will be discussed in subsequent deliberations'. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion, which helps the reader follow the progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'co-curricular', 'deliberations', and 'pressurise'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'phycological' (spelling error: psychological) and 'creativeness' (creativity is more standard). The phrase 'meet different kind of students to them' is also slightly unnatural. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the control is not always consistent. Focusing on more precise collocations and ensuring correct spelling will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'taught them in the schools' (should be 'taught to them'), 'the children meets' (subject-verb agreement), and 'make sure that the students may also get the time' (modal usage). While these errors are noticeable, they do not generally impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and articles. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help elevate your band score.

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

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