Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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)

It is often argued that primary schools focus too much on formal learning. Although some people may hold an opposing view, I completely disagree with this statement because of less practical learning and overall well-being. These two factors are particularly essential because they have a direct impact on the personality of an individual.

The main reason why I disagree with the view is that practical learning of a student. This is mainly because formal learning only provides good theoretical knowledge rather than practical knowledge. When primary schools give more attention to a formal coursework learning, students are more likely to gain only grades in the examination. As a result, students become familiar to only course structure and they could lack the leadership qualities. For example, many students involve in the exam preparation, they could skip the extracurricular activities such as, games. This example clearly demonstrates that only basic learning is not important for students. Therefore, practical learning is a strong justification for my position.

Another important reason is that formal learning system keeps many students away from the sports and multitask chellanges. In other words, when students are more focused to foundational learning of their course, they might skip sports and speech competitions. This is significant because students want high marks in the exam. If students are involved in a speech competition, they might unable to gain good scores in major course. On the other hand, participating in sports lead to physical and mental well-being. While, speech competitions provide confidence and motivation to students.

In conclusion, I completely disagree with the view that primary school focuses too much on formal education. This is mainly because practical skills and confidence, both of which can significantly influence the student.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the extent of agreement and the importance of play. However, the position is slightly contradictory. You state you 'completely disagree' that schools focus too much on formal learning, yet your arguments focus on the benefits of practical learning and sports, which implies that schools should indeed incorporate more of these elements. The ideas are relevant but remain somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, the claim that students 'might unable to gain good scores' if they participate in speech competitions is a generalization that lacks depth. To reach a higher band, ensure your position is consistent and provide more nuanced examples to support your claims.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In other words' and 'On the other hand,' to link your points. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'While, speech competitions provide...' where the comma usage is incorrect and the sentence fragment disrupts the flow. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'These two factors,' which refers back to a list that was not fully established. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help the essay flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'extracurricular activities,' 'theoretical knowledge,' and 'well-being.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'multitask chellanges' (spelling error and awkward collocation) and 'become familiar to only course structure' (should be 'familiar with'). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your spelling is accurate. The range is sufficient for a 6.0, but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. For example, 'many students involve in the exam preparation' should be 'many students are involved in exam preparation,' and 'they might unable to gain' is missing the verb 'be.' Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main points, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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