Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-04

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 6.5)

Most people believe that primary schools emphasize a lot on formal learning and fail to create a balance between a playful environment and academic classes. In my opinion, although regular classes are important, interactive learning sessions are of great help to develope a variety of skills in students.

There are a number of reasons why schools follow traditional methods of teaching. The primary reason is that it teaches students the importance of discipline and time management. Fixed timetable encourages pupils to learn the basic, core subjects such as writing and algebra which are essential to their future and higher studies. As a result, this way teachers can also track the progress of students and give attention to the ones falling behind.

While the regular classes are highly benficial for academic teaching, it is also important to engage students in activities that would help them develop social skills and boost their confidence. Children, who love to play, learn better when they are grouped together with other students that gives them a chance to work as a team and collaborate. Moreover, the topic fractions can be taught in an better way if the teacher sets up a mini workshop rather than solving a series of questions on board. China, for instance, has adopted a hybrid aproach where students get some time in between classes to carry out hands on excersises such as knitting, solving puzzles or even playing chess. This lead to an overall increase in critical thinking and problem solving skills among the young people.

To sum up, while following strict schedule has multiple benefits, it should also be paired with plays and different fun activities for the students as it improves their creativity and cognitive abilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, examining both the extent of agreement regarding formal learning and the importance of play in the primary classroom. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are generally well extended and supported, such as when discussing the benefits of discipline and time management alongside social skills and teamwork. However, there is a slight tendency to overgeneralize in places, which prevents the response from reaching the highest bands. For instance, the claim that children 'learn better when they are grouped together' is stated broadly without deeper qualification. The example from China successfully supports the argument regarding critical thinking and problem-solving skills, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the prompt requirements and fulfilling all aspects of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with the introduction of the debate, moving into the reasons for traditional teaching, shifting to the counter-argument involving play and the Chinese example, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'The primary reason', 'While the regular classes', 'Moreover', and 'To sum up' are used flexibly to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is managed appropriately and sufficiently, ensuring that distinct points are separated logically. Although referencing is generally clear, minor mechanical elements in cohesion could be smoother, yet the overall arrangement remains coherent and easy to follow from beginning to end.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used provides a sufficient range for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision with terms like 'traditional methods of teaching', 'cognitive abilities', and 'hybrid approach'. The writer attempts less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'critical thinking' and 'problem solving skills'. However, there are some noticeable lexical errors and spelling mistakes that prevent a higher grade, including 'develope' instead of develop, 'benficial' instead of beneficial, 'aproach' instead of approach, 'excersises' instead of exercises, and 'lead' instead of led. Despite these occasional inaccuracies in word form and spelling, the vocabulary remains adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses such as 'activities that would help them develop social skills' and conditional-like or concessive structures such as 'while following strict schedule has multiple benefits'. There are frequent error-free sentences, alongside a few persistent errors in grammar. Examples of grammatical slips include 'emphasize a lot on' (unnecessary prepositional clutter), 'the topic fractions can be taught in an better way' (article error 'an better'), and missing articles such as 'strict schedule' instead of a strict schedule. Punctuation is generally controlled, and while these errors persist, they rarely impede communication, reflecting a solid command of grammar that fully satisfies the lower band requirements while touching upon features of higher bands.

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