Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09
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 5.0)
Some people believe that primary schools focus too much on formal education while others have different opinion. This topic has become increasingly important in modern primary education based system. I strongly agree with that primary school childrens should participate in sports along with their studies because it connect both mental and physical development.
The main reason i agree with this view is that informal education comes out from no curriculum planning, books, planned exam and time table. Informal eduction along with sports activities strengthen the body, clarification of daily life routine concepts, understanding the problems of society. Informal education including sports engage students as a result of which students becomes more active and energetics. For example comparison of students with formal education and informal education suggest that those students who get informal education are mentally strong and have more decision power as compared to the formal education learner who only focus on bookish knowledge and number based success.
Another important reason is that informal education provides visit to many places to get knowledge about that. It help in developing social and teamwork skills. In many situations, students learn cooperation and discipline through group activities. Informal education provides confidence and no limit of knowledge level, which opens the mind of stdents to understand problems of other society peoples. Informal education no need of exam and proper work routine.
In conclusion i strongly agree that informal education are as important as formal education. This is because they improve mental health and build confidence to learner.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
Your position is clear: you strongly support combining formal study with play and other activities, and you give relevant reasons such as physical development, confidence, cooperation, and teamwork. However, the response only partially addresses the question because it focuses mainly on “informal education” rather than explaining specifically how important play should be in the primary classroom. Some claims, such as the comparison between students receiving formal and informal education, are broad and not supported with a concrete example. The conclusion repeats your view but does not add much development. The response is also 5 words below the required minimum; the 8 words copied from the prompt were not counted. Develop the classroom role of play more directly and support each main point with a specific example.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The ideas are generally grouped by reason, and phrases such as “The main reason” and “Another important reason” help signal the paragraph focus. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow: the first body paragraph moves from a definition of informal education to sports, social understanding and a comparison of learners without clearly connecting each point. Repeated use of “informal education” also makes the links mechanical, while “For example” introduces a general comparison rather than a specific illustration. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each supporting detail explicitly to classroom play, and vary referencing so the argument develops more smoothly.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “physical development,” “teamwork skills,” “cooperation,” “discipline” and “confidence.” These terms help communicate the main benefits you have in mind. However, the range is limited by repeated reliance on “informal education,” and several word choices or combinations are unclear or unnatural, such as “clarification of daily life routine concepts,” “energetics,” and “no limit of knowledge level.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “eduction,” “stdents” and “peoples,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural phrases that describe play and learning directly, and check spelling and word forms carefully. This will make your ideas easier to understand and more convincing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response is usually understandable. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in sentence structure, agreement, articles and verb forms. For example, “I strongly agree with that primary school childrens should participate” needs a different clause pattern and correct plural form; “it connect both mental and physical development” has subject–verb agreement problems; and “It help in developing” repeats this issue. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in lowercase “i” and “In conclusion i.” Some longer sentences, particularly the comparison beginning “For example comparison…,” are difficult to follow. Practise accurate basic clauses first, then build longer sentences with clear connectors and carefully checked agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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