Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09

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 6.5)

Many people believe that primary schools put too much emphasis on formal lessons like reading and math. I agree with some extent, and also think play is important for young children in school.

It is true schools need to teach basic academic skills. Children must learn to read, write, and do some simple calculations because these are essential for their future education and jobs. Without a strong foundation in these subjects, students will never struggle later in life. For this reason, school spends a lot of time on formal learning.

However, I believe that schools focus too much on sitting at desk and doing tests. Primary school children are very young and they can learn best through activities. If they only study books all day, they can become bored, stressed, and lose interest in school. Play helps children to relax and enjoy learning.

Play is a significant part in the classroom because it helps children develop in many ways. Through games, children learn to share, work in teams, and solve problems. For instance, when children build with blocks, they can learn about many shapes and creativity. When they play role games, they improve their communication skills. Play also helps children to be physically healthy.

In conclusion, while formal learning is necessary, I agree that primary schools focus on it too much. Play should be an important part of every school day because it helps children learn social skills, stay happy, and develop creativity. A good balance between learning and play is best for young children.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the extent of agreement regarding formal learning and the importance of play. The position is clear throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as building with blocks and role-playing. However, the development is somewhat basic. For instance, the statement 'students will never struggle later in life' is a logical error (it should be 'will struggle'), and the argument could be further extended by discussing the long-term cognitive benefits of play versus the potential drawbacks of early academic pressure. Overall, the response meets the requirements of the task well, though it lacks the depth required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the discussion of formal learning from the benefits of play. The flow of ideas is generally smooth, although some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. The referencing is clear, and the progression of ideas is logical throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'academic skills', 'formal learning', and 'communication skills'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'play is a significant part in the classroom' (should be 'part of'). The student relies on relatively simple language, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise academic collocations and varied synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors that slightly impede the flow. For example, 'I agree with some extent' should be 'I agree to some extent', and 'school spends a lot of time' should be 'schools spend'. Additionally, the sentence 'Without a strong foundation... students will never struggle later in life' contains a major error in meaning due to the misuse of 'never'. Despite these errors, the meaning is generally conveyed, and the punctuation is mostly accurate. A wider range of complex structures with fewer errors is needed for a higher score.

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.