Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-29

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)

Several individuals argue that primary schools influence more on formal learning. Children are the future of a country. This has become a widely discussed topic in this contemporary society. I believe that focusing on structural education of primary children is essential. The advantages of formal education outweigh the disadvantages. In this essay i will discuss both.

To begin with benefits of formal education institutions. There are numerous benefits however the major one is a child will understand the significance of his actions. for example when a child will see that the consequences of being lazy and not doing his homework on time are going to affect his grade, He will be afraid of getting disrespected in front of his parents, eventually he will work diligently. This will make a children independent. He will work on his own. That is how formal education is going to assist children.

On the other hand individuals argue that structural education can cause psychological problems. Formal education make children stressed over small thing. They think a lot about their grades. Some individuals are afraid about the mental health of their children. They think worrying about studies can cause psychological issues such as anxiety. which will affect the analytical and cognitive abilities of their children but fortunately

there is no evidence that clearly asserts this is true.

From my perspective learning in places like these will improve your critical thinking and obviously children will study hard and good grades will help them in future. His punctuality will assist him to overcome challenges.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, though the development is somewhat limited. You clearly state your position on formal learning, but the second part of the prompt—the importance of play—is largely ignored. You focus almost exclusively on the benefits and drawbacks of formal education rather than discussing the role of play in the classroom. To improve, ensure you dedicate a full paragraph to the importance of play, providing specific examples of how it might complement formal learning. The ideas presented are relevant, but they lack the depth and extension required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition 'To begin with' is used, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'he' to refer to a generic child, which feels slightly unnatural. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your pronouns clearly refer back to the intended nouns to create a smoother, more logical progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision needed for a higher score. You rely on fairly basic terms like 'good grades' and 'small thing'. There are some instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'influence more on formal learning' and 'structural education'. While your meaning is clear, the vocabulary does not demonstrate a high level of sophistication or flexibility. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more precise academic vocabulary related to education, such as 'academic rigor', 'holistic development', or 'pedagogical approaches'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'Formal education make children stressed' (subject-verb agreement) and 'a children' (article usage). Punctuation is also problematic, with several run-on sentences and missing commas, particularly in the second paragraph. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for basic punctuation errors to ensure your sentences are grammatically sound.

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

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