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 debated that in the present times, primary schools have shifted their focus more on academic learning rather than basic practical and sruvival skills. I largely agree, that primary teaching instiutions should priortize physical and mind unravelling activities as well

Every school has set of principles and rules, similarly they are given certain syllabus that has to be cover in specific amount of time by administrations. So teachers main focus become only to deliver lectures on mathematics, vocabulary, and science and to cover their courses. Furthermore, preceding test sessions every week have become popular in academics, admininstration believe that these are the only way they can prepare students for competetive world out there.

Nonetheless formal eductaion is important but schoos should provide an environment where student can develop their mental and phsyical capabilities as well. There should be alotted time during the day that focus on phsyical activities like swimming, playing, it will not only help students to unwind and relax from hectic routine but also help in nourising their phsyical strenght, their limbos, muscles will develop profoundly. Furthermore, they should be assigned tasks like puzzle solving in groups, it will not only brainstorm their minds but encourage them the spirit of teamwork.

In conclusion, primary schools should equally focus on both aspects of formal and informal eductaion hand by hand.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, agreeing that primary schools focus too much on formal learning and discussing the importance of play alongside study. However, the development of ideas remains somewhat superficial and general. For instance, the mention of activities like swimming and puzzle-solving is relevant but lacks extension or detailed examples. Furthermore, the response suffers from a significant drawback in length, as it contains only 223 words, falling well short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the overall fullness of task fulfillment, pulling the score down to a band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is divided into four distinct paragraphs, including an introduction and conclusion. There is a general logical flow and progression of ideas; for example, the second paragraph explains why schools focus strictly on academics, while the third paragraph introduces the benefits of play. However, paragraphing and internal cohesion are sometimes faulty and mechanical. The transitions feel abrupt, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the dangling clause 'preceding test sessions' and misused cohesive devices. Overall, the organizational structure is visible but lacks sophisticated control, aligning best with a band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student attempts to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'competetive', 'unravelling', and 'nourising', but these attempts are frequently marred by spelling and word-choice errors. There are notable typographical and lexical mistakes throughout the text, including 'sruvival' for survival, 'instiutions' for institutions, 'priortize' for prioritize, and 'eductaion' for education. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the basic message, the frequency of spelling errors and inappropriate collocations ('mind unravelling activities') restricts the score to a band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over sentence structure. However, there is a high frequency of grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text. Examples include run-on sentences and comma splices, such as 'playing, it will not only help', as well as subject-verb agreement issues ('admininstration believe'). Complex structures are often faulty, and missing articles or incorrect prepositions further impede fluent reading. Despite these errors, meaning is generally conveyed, placing the grammar at a band 5.0.

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