Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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 7.5)

It is often claimed that primary education places excessive emphasis on structured, academic learning at the expense of other activities. I largely agree with this view, and I believe that play has an equally important role to perform in a child's early education.

On one hand, formal learning is clearly necessary in primary school. Children need to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, and these are best taught through a certain amount of direct instruction and practice. Without this foundation, students would struggle in later years of education. However, many schools now dedicate almost all classroom time to these formal subjects, leaving little room for anything else. This narrow focus can leave children feeling stressed and can reduce their natural enthusiasm for learning.

On the other hand, play is far more than simple entertainment. Through games and unstructured activities, children develop social skills such as cooperation and conflict resolution, as well as creativity and problem-solving abilities. For example, when children build something together using blocks, they are not only having fun but also learning to negotiate, plan, and think spatially. These are skills that a worksheet cannot easily teach.

In my own experience, the students who seemed most confident and curious were often those whose teachers balanced lessons with regular play and group activities, rather than those in more rigidly academic classrooms.

In conclusion, while formal instruction is essential for building core skills, I believe primary schools should give play a much more central role, since it develops abilities that traditional teaching alone cannot provide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The arguments regarding the necessity of formal learning and the developmental benefits of play are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of block-building to illustrate social and spatial skill acquisition. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. The response is balanced, addressing the 'to what extent' aspect by acknowledging the value of formal education while advocating for a more integrated approach.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the necessity of formal learning and the benefits of play is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion,' which guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive referencing, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases such as 'excessive emphasis,' 'direct instruction,' 'natural enthusiasm,' and 'conflict resolution' show a good command of academic register. While the vocabulary is accurate and appropriate, it is consistently functional rather than highly sophisticated or idiomatic. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more nuanced collocations or less common lexical items related to educational pedagogy. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'while formal instruction is essential... I believe...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that cause confusion. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of accuracy, fitting the criteria for a band 8.0, as the errors are non-existent or so rare that they do not detract from the overall quality of the writing.

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