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)

Some people believe that primary school concentrate a lot on formal learning. I partly agree with that point because academic education is essential for young children, but i believe that play should also play crucial role for in the process of young learners.

Get the ball rolling with, formal learning, this is necessary for students because primary school education is base the of future of young learners. At this stage students develop new skills such as reading writing and mathematical, this skill help them to understand more difficult subject. For instance child who learn basic mathematical at an early age then they will consider maths questions like piece of cake in future therefore so school should not put academic learning on the back burner.

On the other hand, students should not spend whole time to sit desk for learning. Playing is also important for children because it can help them to social mental and physical skills.

Through the game children learn ho to communicate with others share tings solve problems together and this is also help to create unity with other students when they playing with each other it give chance them to make new friend, for example if students work together solve problem together this make them more Cooperative and they learn more new things in short time.

In my opinion the best strike a balance between formal education and play, this is important for teacher to held a group game for learning this is effective way for learning in short term.

In conclusion, partly agree that primary schools can sometimes place too much emphasis on formal learning however the best way to teach students is make a bridge gap between formal study and learning this is a best way for teaches the 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 and maintained throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, while you mention that play helps with 'social, mental and physical skills,' these points are not fully elaborated with specific examples or deeper analysis. The arguments remain quite general, which limits the depth of the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is extended with a concrete explanation or a more detailed illustration of how these benefits manifest in a classroom setting.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand,' 'For instance,' and 'In conclusion.' However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Get the ball rolling with,' which is an informal idiom not well-suited to this academic context. Additionally, the transition between sentences within paragraphs is occasionally choppy, and some referencing is unclear (e.g., 'this is a best way for teaches the students'). Improving the variety and natural flow of your linking words will help the ideas progress more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'formal education,' 'academic learning,' and 'cooperative.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'base the of future' instead of 'the foundation of the future,' and 'best strike a balance' instead of 'best to strike a balance.' The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and there are occasional spelling errors like 'tings' (things) and 'ho' (how). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and expanding your range of academic vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with articles ('a early age'), subject-verb agreement ('school should not put,' 'this skill help'), and sentence fragments or run-on sentences. For example, 'for example if students work together solve problem together this make them more Cooperative' lacks necessary punctuation and correct verb forms. These errors are noticeable and occasionally require the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning. Increasing your control over basic sentence construction and punctuation will significantly improve your score.

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

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