Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 6.5)

Some people believe that primary schools focus too much on formal learning, such as reading textbooks. To a large extent I agree with this view because young children need a healthy balance to grow well. I believe that playing is just as important as studying for early development.

First, too much formal learning can cause stress for young children. When schools focus only on tests and learning, so children often lose their natural interest in education. For example, sitting at a desk for many hours makes children feel tired and frustrated. Play allows them to learn at their own peace, which keeps schools fun and exciting.

Second, playing helps children build important life skills that textbooks cannot teach. When children play games together, they learn how to share, communicate, and solve problem as a team. For example, playing sports or building blocks teaches them teamwork and patience. These activities also improve their physical health, which is necessary for growing bodies.

On the other hand, formal learning is still important to build basic knowledge. Children must learn how to read, write and do simple math at an early age to succeed in higher grades. Without these skills, it would be difficult for them to study harder subjects later.

In conclusion, while formal education is needed for basic skills, primary schools should not focus on it too much. Adding play into the classroom and add some classroom activities and group activities so keep children happy and creative. Schools must balance both styles to help children grow well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

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 and maintained throughout. Ideas are relevant, such as the mention of stress and the development of life skills. However, the development is somewhat basic. For instance, the point about 'life skills' is a strong argument but could be further extended with more specific examples beyond 'building blocks'. The conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments, though it is slightly repetitive. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the negative impact of stress or the benefits of play. Cohesive devices like 'First', 'Second', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother in places. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, contributing to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language such as 'early development', 'formal education', and 'higher grades'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0 range. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, but the phrasing is generally straightforward and functional rather than precise or varied.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, such as 'When schools focus only on tests and learning, children often lose their natural interest in education.' However, there are minor grammatical slips, such as 'at their own peace' (should be 'pace') and 'solve problem' (should be 'solve problems'). Additionally, the sentence 'Adding play into the classroom and add some classroom activities and group activities so keep children happy' is syntactically awkward and repetitive. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.