Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01
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)
Undoubtedly , it is true that academic learning play an extreme role in children's life . Due to this ,people believe that schools give it more importance .I agree with this statement but other activity like games and sports are also equally important as well as study .
On the one hand , primary school focus more on the formal study than children's play . Studying for long hours is not good for kids . They become stressful and lose their interest in learning . Therefore , outdoor games and class room activities motivate them for study . Mathematics and journal knowledge can boosted through games along with the group learning . Moreover , it increases the problem solving skills in pupils because in their younger age they have good ability to catch new things in their life . As a result it improve their personality .
Furthermore , if schools teacher introduce new skills of learning and always do creative activities .It helps children in their holistic development .They become physically and mentally strong through this . Additionally , they feel comfortable around new people because it boosts their communication skill along with confidence .
In conclusion , although formal learning is very important but creative activities also play an important role in kids life . This type of activities help children to become calm and relax in their life . Moreover , it enhance their knowledge to solve life problems . From my point of view , balance is must important in life .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 and maintained throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the benefits of play are mentioned in terms of 'problem solving' and 'personality' in the second paragraph, but these points are not fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. The ideas are relevant, but the essay would benefit from more concrete illustrations of how play specifically facilitates learning in a primary school setting to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the transition 'Due to this' in the opening. Additionally, some sentences lack smooth flow, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved to ensure a more natural and sophisticated flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student relies on basic terms like 'good', 'important', and 'new things'. There are attempts to use more academic vocabulary, such as 'holistic development', but these are limited. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'journal knowledge' (likely meaning 'general knowledge') and 'boosted through games'. While the meaning is generally clear and communication is not impeded, the range of vocabulary is not sufficiently wide or flexible to demonstrate the precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'academic learning play', 'school focus', 'it improve') and article usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces missing before commas and periods. While the meaning remains understandable, these errors are frequent and occur in basic structures. To improve, the student should focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent punctuation, as these persistent errors prevent the writing from achieving a higher score despite the attempt at complex sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.