Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 5.0)

It is often argued that primary school place excessive emphasis on formal learning . I strongly agree with that that statement because in that age childrens need both plays and learning as well .

There is no doubt that formal learning is important butprimary schools need to focus on different playing activities as well. Althugh literacy rate is very high but i think if childern learn everytime during this age than there interest in study is gradually decreases with time.

Primary schools think to focus on plays activites for students . Such as physicall games and advanterous games like cricket, football and hockey and some other games etc.

Social skills play a vital role in students because the cofidence level increase in student also they know about sharing and they also work together with group of students.

plays become active for students , there health maintains good and brain take some relex so that fresh for continue learning and focus on study.

In Finland the primary schools are focus more on plays rather than learning and there homework are little bit down . Even that there students are so brillent and intelligent in all over the world.

In my opinion it is very important for students the plays along with learning . So that they take some relex, feel fresh and indepent also maintain its health so that they continue their learning in future and makes brilliant and intelligent student.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, expressing a clear position on formal learning and discussing the importance of play in primary schools. The ideas are relevant, mentioning social skills, physical health, and even referencing Finland as a comparative example. However, the development is limited due to the shortness of the text. Furthermore, the response falls short of the required 250-word minimum, containing only 240 words. This results in a penalty for task length, restricting the score for Task Achievement to Band 5.0. To achieve a higher band, the student must extend their arguments fully and ensure the word count requirement is met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay displays some basic organization, with an introduction, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, overall progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. Paragraphing is attempted, but many paragraphs consist of just one or two short sentences, such as 'Social skills play a vital role in students...'. Transitional phrases are largely absent or repetitive, leading to a disjointed reading experience. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in sentences like 'plays become active for students'. Cohesion is inadequate and mechanical overall, aligning well with the Band 5.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, with frequent word-form and spelling errors such as 'childerns', 'Althugh', 'childern', 'everytime', 'physicall', 'advanterous', 'cofidence', 'relex', 'indepent', and 'brillent'. While the student attempts some less common vocabulary like 'excessive emphasis' and 'adventurous games', inaccuracies in word choice and collocation are noticeable throughout the text. These lexical errors sometimes cause strain for the reader, though communication of the core ideas remains just about clear. This performance fits the Band 5.0 profile for Lexical Resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but structures are frequently faulty. Examples include 'It is often argued that primary school place...', 'if childern learn everytime... than there interest... decreases', and 'primary schools are focus more on plays'. Errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, prepositions, and pluralisation are highly frequent throughout the response. Although simple sentences are sometimes accurate, the high frequency of grammatical mistakes causes difficulty for the reader and restricts the score to a Band 4.5.

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

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