Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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)

Some people believe primary education institute are more focused on formal learning. I agree with this statement because institute should apply different methodology for children`s primary education than formal learning.

Some people argue that schools are more focused on formal learning. As it can be seen different schooling systems have been following the same old traditional strategy that have been used decades ago to teach students formally. For example, In South Asian countries like Pakistan and India teachers instead of making it playful for children`s have been delivering lectures through text books which makes it harder for children`s to learn and it also lower their interest to go school. Therefore, ratio of children`s lacks of interest to attend schools are higher in these countries which is the results of these formal learning techniques.

I believe that education system should apply different learning strategy for children`s in their primary school. This is because children`s deserves playful environment to learn. For example, in china primary schools have animated video graphics for children to learn rather than formal learning. Therefore, it makes children more focused more engaged with classrooms and it also have been an increase in attendance of children in those schools and these learning methods should be implements at wider range by education system.

In conclusion, I believe that formal learning is an awful technique to apply at primary level because it is boring, dusted and faded method that never works and children`s loose their interest. Education system should implements some policies to make a change and create a more playful environment for kids.

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. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. While the examples of South Asian and Chinese education systems are relevant, the analysis remains at a surface level. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' and 'how' of these methods, perhaps discussing the cognitive benefits of play versus the limitations of rote learning in more depth. The conclusion is a bit simplistic and relies on emotive language rather than summarizing the main arguments effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'For example,' 'Therefore,' and 'In conclusion,' but they are sometimes used mechanically or repetitively. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'these' without a clear antecedent in some instances. Overall, the structure is sufficient to guide the reader through your argument without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'awful,' 'boring,' and 'dusted,' which are not ideal for an academic essay. There are also persistent errors in word form and usage, such as 'primary education institute' instead of 'institutions' and 'children`s' (the possessive apostrophe is used incorrectly throughout the text). While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'methodology' and 'animated video graphics,' the overall range is limited, and the errors occasionally distract from the message.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. These include subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'children`s deserves,' 'system should implements'), incorrect pluralization, and misuse of articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the unnecessary use of apostrophes in plural nouns. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and avoiding the misuse of apostrophes for simple plurals.

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

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