Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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)

It is often argued that primary schools are focusing solely on formal learning rather than creative activities. I largely agree with this opinion that reading, writing, mathematic, tests and homework, and teacher-led lessons are very common in junior schools.

Most of the elementary schools are significantly promoting structured education. For example, students are learning entirely from textbooks, lessons, homework, and a fixed curriculum, which can cause certain concerns for learners. Students get burdened and become bore by learning similar things again and again. Consequently, they lost their interest in academic education. Participating in creative activities and learning through exploration is highly beneficial for the development and growth of the students.

Physical activities are equally crucial as classroom-based learning. Playing keep the students mentally fresh and physically fit. For instance, a student on break from education, engaged in sports can return motivated and refreshed. The development of body is also necessary. Playing helps them to be more creative and active. They could immediately take part in classroom activities. Engaging with playmates could boost their communication, social and problem-solving skills and confidence.

In conclusion, although learning with consistency can leads the students towards excellence, physical activities are also valuable as they brings confidence, social interaction, and creativity. Therefore, educational institutions should provide opportunities for sports and physical activities. They should strike a balance between learning and playing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, expressing a clear position and discussing the importance of play. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the discussion on the benefits of play could be expanded with more specific examples or a more nuanced exploration of how schools might implement these changes. Because the response is 25 words short, it fails to fully develop the ideas to the level required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. To improve, you should focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the relationships between sentences are more fluid and less predictable.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'structured education' and 'academic excellence'. However, there are instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'become bore' (should be 'bored') and 'playing keep the students' (should be 'playing keeps'). The range is sufficient to convey the message, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'learning with consistency can leads' (should be 'lead') and 'physical activities... as they brings' (should be 'bring'). Additionally, there are minor errors in pluralization and verb forms. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy is key.

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

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