Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 6.0)

Primary education is the beginning of a student's educational life, and it starts in primary school. Some individuals argue that primary institutions focus too much on theoretical education. I strongly agree with this view because children's brains do not have the same ability to understand theoretical concepts as adults.

First and foremost, I agree with this aspect because children can learn things more effectively through educational games rather than through theoretical lessons. Children's brains are not as developed as those of adults. They cannot learn and understand simple concepts as quickly as adults can. This is why visualization is very important. It can play a crucial role in primary education. Moreover, children can understand concepts more easily when there is a visual aspect, and one way to introduce this is by playing educational games with teachers in the classroom. For example, if children cannot learn the multiplication table of 2, they can understand it more easily by playing number-based games with their teachers. This can be much easier than simply memorizing it.

In contrast, there are some drawbacks to this approach. Theoretical education is a traditional way of teaching children, so there may not be enough experienced teachers who can teach them through games. Experienced teachers play a vital role in this type of education. On the other hand, parents may not be aware of this approach because theoretical education is the most popular and traditional method of teaching around the world. For instance, if a child tries to learn a multiplication table or write an essay by playing educational games, parents may not understand the method and may complain to the teachers. This could create a complicated situation for schools and teachers and make it difficult for them to continue teaching in this way.

In conclusion, I strongly agree with the perspective that children should learn through educational games because this is a very practical and effective method that can make education much easier. It can also help students concentrate on their studies rather than feel afraid of them. Although there may be some challenges, students can benefit greatly from this approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position on formal learning and discussing the importance of play alongside learning. The writer successfully explains their views, supporting them with relevant examples, such as learning multiplication tables through games. However, some ideas feel slightly repetitive, particularly when discussing children's brain development and the potential skepticism from parents. While the ideas are relevant, further extension could have elevated the depth of argument. Nevertheless, the main prompts regarding agreement and the role of play are fully covered, meeting the requirements of a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range. We award a Band 6.5 for these minor tendencies toward over-generalisation and slight under-development of supporting points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay presents a clear overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction of the thesis, arguments for play-based learning, potential drawbacks and counterarguments, and the final conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Moreover', 'In contrast', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately throughout. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional repetition in sentence openings holds the cohesion back from higher bands. This performance aligns well with the Band 6.5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'theoretical education', 'visualization', 'crucial role', and 'traditional method'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices and collocations feel a bit repetitive, such as the frequent reuse of 'theoretical education' and 'educational games'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate and do not impede communication. Minor slips in precision prevent the score from reaching a higher band, but the overall lexical adequacy firmly supports a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a workable mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional structures effectively (e.g., 'For example, if children cannot learn the multiplication table of 2, they can understand it more easily...'). There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, but they are infrequent and rarely impede communication. The writer maintains control over basic sentence structures while attempting more complex syntax with reasonable success. Because error-free sentences are frequent alongside minor slips, this clearly corresponds to a Band 6.5 performance.

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