Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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)

Many individuals argue that the teachings of the primary schools rely a lot on formal learning. From my perspective, I agree with this opinion, as this will only make the children a robot. It is highly important for the adolescents to engage in the playful activities as well as the normal studies so that they will properly focus their mind and relax a bit.

Only letting the student study all the time will have negative consequences on the performance and outcomes of the individuals. A significant number of primary schools focus on the results of the students so that their school's reputation increases. In this regard, they focus solely on the studies and don't let the students play or do some mindful activities. For example, a recent study shows that around 80% of the local schools have better positions, and when the students' interviews were taken, they said that they only teach from books.

Younger children's minds are not built to study all the time in the institutes. They needed to be provided with some handful exercises and mental problems that they can utilize to shift their focus from studies. It will bring positive outcomes, as they are more keen to put their efforts into learnings when they are provided with refreshing, playful stuff. For example, many younger ones want to play with the swings and toys so they can swiftly study well.

To sum up, although primary schools focus on formal training schemes. But I think they should be given some time for physical activities as well. It will have a positive impact on their physical and mental capabilities.

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. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The argument that children become 'a robot' is a strong claim but lacks sufficient elaboration. The example provided about '80% of local schools' is vague and lacks a clear connection to the argument. While the position is clear throughout, the supporting points could be more deeply explored with more specific, logical reasoning to reach a higher band. The response is balanced, but the depth of analysis remains at a basic level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In this regard,' 'For example,' and 'To sum up,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. The concluding paragraph is a bit abrupt and contains a sentence fragment ('But I think they should be given...'), which slightly disrupts the overall coherence of the final summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'handful exercises' (likely meaning 'varied' or 'engaging') and 'swiftly study well.' The use of 'adolescents' to describe primary school children is inaccurate, as adolescents are typically older. While the meaning is generally clear, the lexical choices are somewhat simplistic and occasionally imprecise, which prevents the essay from demonstrating a more sophisticated command of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'teachings of the primary schools rely' (should be 'primary school teaching relies'), 'they needed to be provided' (tense inconsistency), and the sentence fragment in the conclusion. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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.