Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Nowadays, many people believe thet primary schools place excessive emphasis on formal education rather than allowing children to play. If quetioned, I vote in favor to a major agree. The reason for my preference are elaborated further.

The foremost reason for my opinion is that basic education is essential for childrens future. such as, reading, writing and mathematics develop fundamental knowledge. While, exessive formal learning creates academic pressure. Children may be feel stress and lose interest in studying. Students who spent most of their time memorising information may have limited oppurtunities to develop creativiy.

In addition to my veiwpoin play improves physical and mental development for instance, outdoor games make fitness and concentation. Meanwhile, childrean learn teamwork , communication and problem solving. Many games teaches children cooperation and team spirit.

Nevertheless, schools should balance academic learning and recreation activities. As a result, children gain knowledge and practical skills. Moreover, practical activities make lessons more engaging. Students can learn through experiments and outdoor activities. For example, gardening activities theach children about plants, soil and environment. They learn independentce and decision making skills. Therefore, their confidence and ability to make decisions. It increases happiness and motivation to lean. Recreation activities help children relex.

To conclude and offer my opinion, i largwly agree that primary schools sometime focus too much on formal learning. Although academic education is essential, play should receive equal importantance beacuse it contributes to children physical, social and intellectual development. Abalance educational system can help children become confident and capable individuals.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the two-part prompt. The writer takes a clear position in favor of the idea that primary schools focus too much on formal learning, and also discusses the importance of play alongside learning. Ideas are presented, such as the balance between academic pressure and creative development, and the benefits of outdoor activities. However, some of these ideas remain somewhat undeveloped or brief. For example, the point about physical and mental development is raised but not fully expanded with deep analysis. Nevertheless, the main parts of the prompt are covered, fitting comfortably into a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear attempts at paragraphing, separating distinct ideas into logical blocks such as the reasons for academic pressure, the benefits of play, and the need for a balanced curriculum. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition to my viewpoint', 'Nevertheless', and 'To conclude'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, as seen in phrases like 'The reason for my preference are elaborated further.' Paragraphing and logical flow are maintained throughout, supporting a clear progression of thought, which places this text at Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'excessive emphasis', 'fundamental knowledge', and 'intellectual development'. However, there are numerous spelling errors throughout the essay, including 'thet', 'quetioned', 'exessive', 'oppurtunities', 'creativiy', 'veiwpoin', 'concentation', 'childrean', 'theach', 'independentce', 'relex', 'largwly', 'importantance', and 'Abalance'. These spelling mistakes and occasional word-choice issues do not severely impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional-like contexts. However, grammatical and punctuation errors are frequent throughout the response. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('The reason for my preference are'), fragment sentences ('such as, reading, writing and mathematics develop fundamental knowledge'), punctuation errors in capitalization ('i largwly agree'), and awkward sentence structures ('Therefore, their confidence and ability to make decisions. It increases happiness...'). These errors can occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader, aligning the grammar with Band 5.0 descriptors.

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

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