Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-30

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)

In the contemporary era, many people believe that now a days primary schools are focusing too much on formal learning, rather than allocating enough time for their play. I firmly believe that it is really crucial for primary schools children to spend sufficient time in playing.

First and foremost, primary schools play a vital role to enhance the creativity of a child, because in phase they are very receptive to any information or activities. If teachers are just emphasizes on the formal learning, their interpersonal skills will not develop, such manners, moral values etc. while, engaging the in different kinds of activity will not increase their interpersonal skills, but also will help to increase their physical and metal strength. For instance, recently in Bangladesh, ministry of education passed a new law that playing football is mandatory in every primary school from 2027.

Secondly, it is really important to engage them in different kinds of physical activities to boost up their confidence. At the same time, if they are allowed to play they will learn to know how to cope up to any kind situations. On the top that, it will also allows them to unlock their own potentials. If a student is become physically fit, they will be healthier in the long run. It will create a compound affect among them. For instance, if they they play football it will help them to increase their relationship with their classmates.

To sum up, it would like to say that it is really crucial for primary schools to engage every students in playing different kinds of games to increase their overall productivity. If they do so it have a ripple affect among all students.

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 from the introduction. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention that play enhances creativity and confidence, the supporting arguments lack depth and specific analysis. The example regarding the Bangladesh law is relevant but could be better integrated to explain how it directly addresses the 'formal learning' debate. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph provides a more thorough explanation of the 'why' and 'how' behind your claims rather than listing benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Secondly', and 'To sum up' to guide the reader. However, the flow within paragraphs is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For example, 'On the top that' is an incorrect collocation, and the connection between sentences in the second paragraph is sometimes repetitive. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother if you varied your linking words and ensured that each sentence logically follows the previous one without relying on repetitive structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You attempt some topic-specific vocabulary like 'interpersonal skills', 'receptive', and 'productivity'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'boost up their confidence' (boost their confidence), 'cope up to' (cope with), and 'compound affect' (compound effect). These errors occasionally draw attention to the language rather than the content. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that words are used in their correct grammatical context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('If teachers are just emphasizes', 'if a student is become'), missing articles, and incorrect preposition usage. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. To achieve a higher band, you need to proofread for basic errors like verb forms and sentence construction. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will also be essential for improvement.

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

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