Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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)

In recent years, there’s been a ton of debate about whether primary schools are way too obsessed with strict academics instead of just letting kids be kids. Personally, I totally agree that today’s classrooms overdo the formal learning. In my book, letting kids play is just as crucial as hammering in book smarts.

To start with, a lot of primary schools have become total pressure cookers with standardized testing, endless worksheets, and making young kids sit still for hours. Don’t get me wrong; learning the basics like reading and math is a must. But forcing tiny humans into such a rigid setup way too early usually backfires big time. At that age, kids naturally learn by messing around, asking random questions, and trying stuff out. When we swap all that fun for non-stop desk work, we’re basically setting them up for early burnout before they even hit middle school.

That’s why bringing play into the classroom is a game-changer. Play isn't just a blow-off break from real work; it is the work. For example, when kids build crazy block towers or play interactive team games, they aren't just fooling around; they are secretly learning geometry, physics, and problem-solving without feeling stressed. On top of that, playing with classmates is how they pick up real-world soft skills like teamwork, handling disagreements, and not throwing a fit when things don't go their way; stuff you literally can’t learn from a boring textbook.

At the end of the day, primary school shouldn't feel like a 9 to 5 job. Mixing short, focused lessons with hands-on play keeps kids actually hyped to go to school every morning.

In conclusion, primary schools have definitely swung too far toward formal instruction. Bringing play back into the everyday routine is vital if we want to raise kids who are not only smart, but also creative, resilient, and eager to learn.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have fully addressed both parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and maintained consistently throughout the essay. You provide relevant arguments regarding the negative impact of rigid academic pressure and the developmental benefits of play, such as problem-solving and social skills. The ideas are well-developed and supported with clear examples, such as building block towers to learn physics. To reach a higher band, ensure that your tone remains consistently academic; phrases like 'in my book' and 'messing around' are too informal for an IELTS Task 2 essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices effectively to link your points, such as 'To start with,' 'That’s why,' and 'On top of that.' The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the critique of formal learning and the benefits of play is smooth. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your main points without introducing new information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'standardized testing,' 'burnout,' and 'resilient.' However, the register is frequently too informal for an academic task. Expressions such as 'ton of debate,' 'way too obsessed,' 'hammering in book smarts,' and 'throwing a fit' are colloquial. While these do not impede communication, they limit your score in this criterion. To improve, replace these informal idioms and phrasal verbs with more precise, formal alternatives to better suit the academic context of the IELTS exam.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You show a good command of sentence structures, using a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively. There are very few grammatical errors, and your punctuation is generally accurate. You successfully use complex structures to explain cause and effect, such as 'When we swap all that fun for non-stop desk work, we’re basically setting them up for early burnout.' The writing is fluent and easy to read. To move higher, try to incorporate a slightly wider variety of advanced grammatical structures, such as passive voice or conditional forms, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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