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)

Many people believe that primary schools focus too much on traditional classroom studying. I agree with this idea to a large extent. In my opinion, play is just as important as formal education for young children because it helps them develop social and practical skills.

Firstly, focusing too much on formal subjects like math and science can make school boring and stresful for young children. When primary schools rely only on textbooks and tests, children often lose their interest in learning. For example, sitting at a desk for long hours can make young students feel tired and frustrated which reduces their

motivation. Putting too much stress and workload on young students is not very effective.

Secondly, play is extremely important in the classroom because children learn best by doing things rather then learning. Playing educational games helps children understand difficult topics very easily. For example, playing with blocks teaches children basic shapes without making them feel like they are doing a difficult thing. Group play and group study helps children learn how to share, communicate, and work together with others. These skills are very important for their future just as learning and reading is.

In conclusin, primary schools currently pla

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 200 words long and remains unfinished. Because the essay is incomplete, the development of ideas is significantly curtailed. While you clearly state your position in the introduction and provide relevant arguments regarding the benefits of play, the lack of a proper conclusion and the brevity of the body paragraphs mean that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you must ensure you complete the essay structure and provide more depth and specific examples for each point to fully satisfy the prompt's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a basic logical progression. You use simple cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure of your argument. However, because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, the overall coherence is disrupted. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is non-existent, which prevents a cohesive summary of your ideas. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link sentences and ideas more fluidly, rather than relying on simple transition words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'formal education', 'social and practical skills', and 'motivation'. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'stresful' (stressful) and 'conclusin' (conclusion), and a minor error in word choice ('rather then learning' should be 'rather than learning'). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure you proofread for basic spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally understandable, there are several errors, such as 'Group play and group study helps' (should be 'help' to agree with the plural subject) and the incomplete sentence at the end. The punctuation is mostly correct, but the overall range of complex structures is limited. To achieve a higher score, focus on using a wider variety of grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, and ensure subject-verb agreement is consistently accurate throughout your writing.

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

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