Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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)

Schools are the system of learning and experiencing studies. It plays a vital role in any nation worldwide. A lot of people debates that elementary schools are concentrating only on non-formal learning. In my opinion, I agree to this statement, it is very significant for a children to learn and play as well in their primary classes.

Firstly, informal learning is a way which helps teacher to understand and deal with childrens behavior. As kids are more into playing games rather than studying because too much formal learning can be boring and stressful for kids specially. If teacher want’s to grab the attention of a childern towards studies then informal learning is the best way to catch attention as childrens are more interested in activities instead forcing them to read books. For instance, in a classroom teacher notices in the reading book period. The students behaves lazy and it feels like their energy is drained but in the gaming session they are feeling active and more energetic. Thus, formal learning can be depressing for kids and teachers can teach anything via informal learning.

Secondly, learning through playing can improve the concentration and build the communication, problem-solving and teamwork skill which is beneficial for a kid in future. Because, the balance of learning and playing is important. Childrens are not capable of learning all the time or playing all the time instead if schools trick the kids and apply informal learning curriculum it has a lot of prons for student itself. For example, teachers usually apply a technique of teaching A to Z alphabets as they instruct student to write these alphabets on a sand through which kids enjoy learning while playing with sand. Therefore, the benefits of learning while playing is far more better than learning and reading books or syllabus only.

In conclusion, academic study and play balances the overall health of child even it build new skills and it never bounds a kids mind. Additionally, children can be more interested in going to school and never feel lazy for school. Formal learning is not a best way to teach kids anything becaus it correlated with the child behavior.

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 throughout, and the ideas are generally well-developed. However, the development is occasionally repetitive, and some arguments, such as the claim that formal learning is 'depressing,' are somewhat over-generalized. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more nuanced arguments and ensure that the link between the two parts of the prompt is more explicitly integrated throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed. For example, the transition between the discussion of teacher behavior and the benefits of play could be smoother. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'it' in the concluding paragraph, which lacks a specific antecedent.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'formal learning,' 'curriculum,' and 'academic study.' However, there are frequent errors in word form and usage, such as 'a children' (should be 'a child' or 'children'), 'prons' (likely meant 'pros'), and 'becaus.' These errors do not impede communication but indicate a limited range of vocabulary and some lack of precision in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('teacher want’s,' 'students behaves') and pluralization ('childern,' 'childrens'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing commas and incorrect apostrophes. While the writer attempts complex sentences, these are often where the errors are most concentrated. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and plural forms before attempting more complex structures.

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