Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

A small proportion of people believe that at early classes in school children are given education formally. I completely agree with this statement, because all the schools follow the same course outlines and enforce rote learning. Additionally, it is also very important for children to play alongside their studies as it help them to perform better in learning complex concepts.

In almost every primary school teachers dont put in efforts to make children understand the concepts. The majority of instructors spend their time to make students learn different topics by repetition instead of giving them examples or showing visuals. As a result, a large number of students lose their interest in studies at an early age. For example, a survey conducted in South Asia concluded that the majority of students did not like certain subjects because they had to cram them instead of understanding.

Many students make friends in schools. Therefore, they want to spend their time with them; however, if schools do not allow children to play, they may try to find other ways to skip classes and engage in sports. Moreover, their interest in going to schools will also reduce. On the other hand, if children are supported to play different sports, they will also start to enjoy doing other activities such as attending classes. Moreover, many sports require talent to be identified during childhood in order to succeed in them. After identification of such talents they can become professionals and make their country proud. For example, in all governmental schools in Pakistan cricket is being played at grassroots level; hence, many skilled cricketers come from this system and represent the country at internation stages.

There is no doubt that education has many benefits; nevertheless, it is not possible to force a person to study. Children should be guided and given proper counselling to make them realize that they should carry their ambitions and study side by side. Thus, when the time for transition to a career occurs, they can choose a better profession for themselves.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

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 outset. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the argument regarding rote learning is supported by a relevant example from South Asia, the discussion on sports, while relevant, drifts slightly into the benefits of professional sports rather than focusing strictly on the role of play in the primary classroom. The ideas are generally relevant, but the depth of analysis could be improved to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'As a result', 'Moreover', and 'nevertheless' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the transition between the discussion of skipping classes and the benefits of professional sports. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument, contributing to an overall coherent flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language like 'rote learning', 'grassroots level', and 'complex concepts'. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'at early classes in school' instead of 'in early primary education' and 'carry their ambitions' which is slightly unnatural. The range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, but lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'teachers dont put in efforts' (missing apostrophe and awkward phrasing), 'it help them' (subject-verb agreement), and 'at internation stages' (spelling/word form). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences could be refined for better flow and accuracy.

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

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