Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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)

Some people believe primary schools focus mainly on formal learning because this provide students better understanding of concepts as well as prepare them to deal with complex problems in future. In my opinion most of the primary schools focus more on engaing activities and games for primary level.

As in primary school students are at the age of learning new things and adapting new behaviour. For the students at that level enaging and fun activites create a balanced learning opportunity which covers both formal learning as well as fun activities. Such kind of activities include different interactive games and methods through which student can learn as well as play during that act. So i believe that it is very essential for children to paly as well as learn during thier primary school. At that age children are more attractive towards visuals,graphics and appealing colors, therefore these activites can create a very fascinating environment for them where they can actually learn while playing or doing so kind of activity. During my primary school, our school had proper arrangements for fun games and activities. There were attractive and engaging posters and charts all over the walls of classes, which had visually appealing counting and alphabets which helped students revise basic terms every time they saw them.

Thus in my opinion most of schools focus on children to play as well as learn. Some schools have proper multimedia setups for children where they display some basic maths and science fun activites which engage them in critical thinking and problem solving skills. Concequently its very essential for schools to focus on children to play as well as learn.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the question: you state that primary schools should combine learning and play, and explain why play is important for young children. The examples of classroom posters and multimedia activities are relevant, and the personal experience gives the response a concrete illustration. However, the first sentence introduces the view that formal learning helps students understand concepts and prepare for complex problems, but you do not clearly say how far you agree with that view or weigh it against your own position. Several points about engaging activities are repeated rather than developed, and the benefits of formal learning receive little explanation. Make your degree of agreement explicit and extend each main reason with a clear explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an overall structure, moving from an opening position to reasons and examples, then to a concluding statement. The classroom-wall example follows naturally from your point about visual learning. However, progression between ideas is sometimes unclear: the opening claim about formal learning is not connected to the later argument that schools focus more on games. Linking phrases such as “As in primary school” and “Thus” do not always show the precise relationship between sentences, while “as well as” and “activities” recur frequently. Paragraphing also leaves the main reasons and examples crowded together. Organise the response into distinct paragraphs for your position, supporting reasons and conclusion, and use clearer references and transitions to show how each example supports a specific point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “interactive games,” “visually appealing,” “critical thinking” and “problem solving.” These choices help communicate the general idea that play can support learning. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “activities,” “engaging,” “fun” and “learn,” and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “students are more attractive towards visuals” and “proper multimedia setups.” Spelling errors, including “engaing,” “activites” and “Concequently,” also reduce accuracy and polish. Aim for more precise terms to describe the educational benefits of play, and proofread carefully for spelling. Vary repeated vocabulary while keeping each alternative natural in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because this provide students…” and a longer sentence explaining how classroom displays help pupils revise. The main ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “this provide” has subject–verb disagreement, and “most of the primary schools focus” needs a more accurate article or plural construction. The sentence beginning “As in primary school students are…” is an incomplete dependent clause, and “where they display” has an unclear reference. Capitalisation of “I” and punctuation around introductory phrases also need attention. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and check agreement, articles and clause boundaries during editing.

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