Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-21

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 7.0)

Some people believe that primary schools place too much importance on formal learning and do not give children enough time to play. I partly agree with this opinion because academic education is important for children, but play is also necessary for their physical, social and emotional development.

On the one hand, formal learning is an important part of primary education. Children need to develop basic skills such as reading, writing, mathematics and general knowledge. These skills provide a strong foundation for their future education. For example, if children learn basic mathematical concepts at an early age, they will find more advanced subjects easier in secondary school. However, if schools spend most of the day on books, tests and homework, young children may become bored and lose interest in learning.

On the other hand, I believe that playing is equally important for young children. During play, children can develop communication and teamwork skills by interacting with their classmates. Physical activities such as running, football and other outdoor games can also improve their health and fitness. In addition, games can help children become more creative and learn how to solve simple problems. For instance, when children play in groups, they have to communicate with others, share things and sometimes solve disagreements. These are useful skills that cannot always be learned from textbooks.

Therefore, I believe that primary schools should maintain a good balance between formal learning and play. Children should have enough classroom time to develop essential academic skills, but they should also be given regular opportunities to play and take part in creative activities. This can make learning more enjoyable and support their overall development.

In conclusion, although formal education is essential in primary schools, I do not think that children should spend most of their time studying. Play is very important because it improves children's physical health, social skills and creativity. A balanced approach to learning and playing is therefore more suitable for young children.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the two-part prompt. The student clearly establishes a position of partial agreement in the introduction and maintains this stance throughout the essay. Both aspects of the prompt are well-covered: the first body paragraph thoughtfully discusses the role of formal learning in primary schools, while the second body paragraph explores the importance of play for children's physical, social, and emotional development. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as learning basic mathematical concepts and engaging in group play to resolve disagreements. The conclusion effectively summarises the main points without unnecessary repetition. Overall, the task response demonstrates a strong command of the prompt requirements, easily aligning with Band 7 descriptors due to the clear position and well-supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-defined introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs addressing both sides of the argument, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the writer's arguments. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring each new idea is introduced in a separate section. The referencing throughout the text is clear, ensuring smooth transitions between sentences and ideas, which justifies a strong Band 7 score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using appropriate terms related to education and child development, such as 'academic education', 'basic mathematical concepts', 'physical fitness', and 'overall development'. There are attempts to incorporate less common lexical items, and the word choices are generally natural and precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly without impeding communication. Minor spelling or word-choice errors are absent, showing a good level of control. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or varied enough to reach Band 8, it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simple forms, displaying good control overall. Examples of well-constructed complex sentences include conditional structures such as 'if children learn basic mathematical concepts at an early age, they will find more advanced subjects easier' and subordinate clauses like 'when children play in groups, they have to communicate with others'. The majority of sentences are grammatically error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the text. The occasional errors that might be expected at lower bands are virtually nonexistent here, reflecting a high level of accuracy that pushes the score firmly into the Band 7.5 or Band 8 range. We will award a solid Band 7.5 for this strong grammatical performance.

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