Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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 6.0)

Many people argue that primary schools give too much attention to formal learning because they are more inclined to provide curriculum-based learning to children. I completely stand with this opinion, I believe that children should spend more time by playing outdoors and doing extra-curricular activities apart from learning in classrooms.

One of the potential implications of introducing formal leaning at primary level is associated with curriculum learning. Many schools introduce different concepts to students at early age because they believe them to be an exceptional learners at early years as their mind is at developing stage and can focus more. For example, In India, schools have Olympiad exams for students which starts as early as f nursary level to check their competitive skills, leading to more stress and burden on children and parents to perform well.

Conversely, it is very crucial for children to play and learn together for their holistic growth. Students should be encouraged to do physical activities as well as to participate in extracurricular activities such as gymnastics, skating and basket ball. These activities will help building their stamina and immunity. For instance, many schools have physical activity as a formal subject in curriculum, where students play for a dedicated period of time.

To conclude, formal learning is essential for the growth at early age whereas, in my opinion, outdoors activities help children to overcome stress and grow stronger and wiser. Adopting play-way methodology will be good for their overall development, otherwise students will become lethargic and lazy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

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. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the example of Olympiad exams in India is relevant, the explanation of why play is important remains a bit superficial. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the long-term benefits of play, such as cognitive development or social skills, rather than just focusing on physical health. The conclusion is a bit repetitive, and the argument could be more nuanced by acknowledging the necessity of formal learning alongside play.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Conversely', 'For instance', and 'To conclude', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the discussion of formal learning and the benefits of play is abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, but the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring each paragraph has a more distinct topic sentence that links back to the central thesis.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'holistic growth', 'curriculum-based learning', and 'lethargic', which is positive. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'f nursary level' (spelling error) and 'play-way methodology'. The range is sufficient to convey your meaning, but you rely on somewhat repetitive phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid informal phrasing like 'stand with this opinion'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'starts as early as f nursary level' (article and spelling errors), 'they believe them to be an exceptional learners' (pluralization error), and 'growth at early age' (missing article). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. You show an attempt at complex structures, but the control over these is inconsistent. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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