Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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)

A group of people say that primary schools focus more on formal learning. I completely agree with this argument. In my opinion, children should be allowed to play as well as learn in the primary school classroom. There should be games that sharpen the mind and strengthen the body. Games that teach important life lessons.

It is really important for children to play as it helps in their growth. Games should be introduced in the classrooms that help children develop logical reasoning and deductive thinking. Games like chess and puzzle solving played. There are more possible moves in chess then there are atoms in this world. Puzzle solving takes the creates a creative side in kids. So playing complex games like that improves memory and problem solving of kids. Table tennis and Badminton should be introduced that helps small children develop hand to mind coordination and improves their overall health.

Apart from the physical and mental benefits of playing, there are also a lot of other advantages too. It also teaches kids some important life lesson like teamwork, accepting defeat, humility and discipline. Kids solving a puzzle together know that two minds working together will improve the chances of winning than just struggling with one mind. Kids will know that sometimes we loss in life despite working hard. It will also help them getting discipline in their lives.

To sum up, I am not saying that schools should drop the learning part and start focusing on just playing. In my view, playing is as important for kids as it learning, if not less.

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 in primary education. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention chess and table tennis, the explanation of how these specifically integrate into a 'primary school classroom' could be more nuanced. The arguments are relevant but occasionally rely on generalisations, such as the claim about atoms in chess, which does not directly support the educational argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that every example is directly linked to the pedagogical benefits of play in a school setting.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. There is a progression of ideas from the benefits of mental games to physical activities and finally to social/life lessons. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the transition 'Apart from the physical and mental benefits...' is functional but basic. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentence-to-sentence links feel slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between paragraphs would enhance the flow and coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'logical reasoning', 'deductive thinking', and 'hand to mind coordination'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the creates a creative side' (grammatically incorrect) and 'sometimes we loss in life' (should be 'lose'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your message, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate 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 'A group of people say that primary schools focus more on formal learning' (should be 'focus too much on'), 'Games like chess and puzzle solving played' (fragmented sentence), and 'it learning' (missing verb). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and word forms, such as 'getting discipline'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your point, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb and tense consistency.

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

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