Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17
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 by some people that elementary schools focus heavily on formal education. I agree with this statement because these schools only focus on academic subjects and skip the other important modules. It is necessary for children to play along with their studies as sports make them healthy.
To begin with, nowadays, junior schools only stuck on curriculum just for good grades. There are other more important subjects such as learning new languages and logical reasoning. If students learn different languages, they would get more opportunities in future. In primary level, course material is already defined for exams. Additionally, these provided material are more focused in schools whereas skip the other subjects. For example, problem solving is the most important skill and this activity developed from childhood. As a result, children score good marks in their early education, however, they will fail in their professional lives.
Moreover, participation of children in sports activities is very crucial along with their studies. Sports make them more healthy and protect them from different diseases. If children play their favourite games, they will shine more in their education. For instance, Lahore Grammer is very famous school in Pakistan, and there are a lot of sports activities planned there. Their students are more confident and healthy. As a result, there students are more likely to get good jobs because of confidence.
In conclusion, although learning formal subjects is necessary for getting good marks, I believe that students should also participate in other activities as well for their growth. Students must take part in sports activities along with their studies for better health and sharp mind.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the two-part prompt. The writer clearly states an agreement with the opinion that primary schools focus too much on formal learning, providing reasons related to exam-driven curricula and a lack of holistic development. Furthermore, the second question regarding the importance of play and sports is answered through examples like sports making children healthy and confident. However, the development of ideas tends to be slightly repetitive and generalises in places, such as when discussing problem-solving and professional failure. While the position is clear and the arguments are relevant, the support is somewhat limited in depth. This places the performance firmly in Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into four paragraphs with a clear overall structure, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'To begin with', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical; for instance, the transition between sentences within the body paragraphs occasionally feels abrupt, and expressions like 'there students' demonstrate a lack of precision. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, ensuring that the overall arrangement remains coherent, warranting a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic arguments about formal education and sports. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, such as 'curriculum', 'logical reasoning', and 'professional lives'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'junior schools only stuck on curriculum' instead of 'focused on the curriculum', and 'provided material are more focused in schools whereas skip the other subjects'. Spelling and word-form errors, like 'Grammer' instead of 'Grammar', also occur. These errors do not impede communication, placing the response at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures like 'If students learn different languages, they would get more opportunities in future.' However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('these provided material are') and prepositional errors ('In primary level'). Punctuation and article usage also show persistent inaccuracies. While simple sentences are generally controlled, complex structures often contain errors that cause some difficulty for the reader, which aligns with the Band 5.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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