Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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)

Learning techniques has been changing with time but a few primary schools still emphasis on formal learning instead of taking new ways to teach children. I strongly disagree with this view because with the evolving world, everything has to adopt new patterns to school the students and make them learn in a more delicate manner. One of the reason is that, conventional way is not effective as much as it was back then, kids like to do activities rather than spending hours on books and homework. Additionally, there is alot student can get by activities based learning in comparison of traditional learning which takes place in classrooms.

For illustration, when a child gets to learn colors, shapes and fruits by just memorizing through books. He might look interest after a few minuties but when we plan an activity which involves, colorful balls, objects and toys, he would more inclined towards exploring the shape, texture and color of the object. He/She will spend good time being joyful yet productive. Moreover, Kids now a days are more into tasks that excites them so they tend to go towards them inspite of siting at a table.

With growing globe, teachers and students adopt several methods to stay focused in studies, since everything is digitalized because of which old school thoughts are heavily discouraged. Small kids have ipads and other gadgets from which they explore numerous things way before they should. Teachers and parents should act accordingly in order to grasp the attention of the children.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you disagree that primary schools focus too much on formal learning, and you argue that activity-based teaching better engages children. The example of learning colours and shapes with balls and toys is relevant and helps explain your view. However, the response does not fully develop both parts of the prompt. You explain why play-based activities can support learning, but you do not clearly discuss how important play is alongside formal learning or how schools should balance the two. The points about digital devices and changing teaching methods are also asserted rather than supported with a specific explanation. To strengthen the response, address the balance directly and extend each main reason with a consequence or a further example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening position, a classroom example, and a final paragraph about modern teaching. Linking expressions such as “Additionally,” “For illustration,” and “Moreover” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear. The final paragraph introduces digitalisation and gadgets without showing precisely how this supports the argument about play and formal learning, and there is no concluding paragraph to bring the position together. Some connections are also awkward, such as “Additionally, there is alot student can get by activities based learning,” which makes the relationship between the ideas harder to follow. Organise the body around distinct reasons, use clearer references between sentences, and finish with a concise conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “formal learning,” “activities,” “memorizing,” “exploring,” and “digitalized.” These choices make the general subject clear, and the example includes concrete classroom objects. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, word-form, and spelling problems make the expression less natural, such as “delicate manner,” “activities based learning,” “look interest,” and “alot.” Some phrases are also vague, including “new patterns” and “old school thoughts.” Aim for more precise education-related language and check common collocations and spelling. For example, describe children as “engaged” or “interested,” and refer to “activity-based learning” rather than “activities based learning.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a conditional example beginning “when we plan an activity,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, control is inconsistent, particularly in longer sentences, and errors sometimes make the reader pause. Examples include “Learning techniques has been changing,” “One of the reason is that,” and “he would more inclined,” where agreement, number, or verb structure is faulty. The sentence beginning “For illustration, when a child gets to learn…” is also a fragment, while “He might look interest” has an incomplete grammatical pattern. Work on subject–verb agreement, articles and plurals, and complete sentence construction. Breaking long sentences into clearer clauses will help you show range more accurately.

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

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