Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-10

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 places too much emphasisbon formal education rather than play-based activities.I largely agree with this view because play helps children develop their creativity , communication skills, problem-solving abilities

Firstly, the people who argue that primary school focus too much only on learning because when there is no activity happening the students often get bored of learning the same thing everyday.I believe that there should be a balance between academic learning and sport activities.For example, In my school the principal has strictly order d that there would be no sports period to maintain the cleanliness of the school although it is right that we should keep the school clean but there should also be some activity to enjoy , to build some practical skills and overall development.

I totally agree with the people about this because look at the benefits the sports are giving to children it helps the children to develop much creativity ,learns to how solvd their own problems and , communication skills by teaming with other people and it is good for overall health as well.

Moreover, play-based activities make lessons more enojoyable and help young learners understand concepts more easily

In conclusion , i believe that primary schools should maintain a balance between formal learning and play based activities . AlThough academic help children to gain knowledge but it is also important to have play

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You take a clear position, saying “I largely agree,” and give relevant reasons: play can support creativity, communication, problem-solving and health. The school example about removing sports periods also helps connect your view to a real situation. However, the response addresses the two questions only partially: it explains why play is beneficial, but says little about how important play should be within classroom learning or how it can be balanced with formal lessons. Several points are asserted rather than explained, and the conclusion is incomplete. The response is also 19 words below the required minimum. Develop each main reason with a fuller explanation or example, and finish by directly answering both parts of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some organisation: the response moves from an opening position to reasons, an example and a conclusion, with paragraph breaks that broadly separate ideas. However, progression is not consistently clear. The first body paragraph begins with a confusing claim about why schools focus on learning, then shifts to balance and the school example; the next paragraph repeats agreement and lists similar benefits. Linking phrases such as “Firstly” and “Moreover” are present, but the relationship between ideas is sometimes unclear, and the conclusion stops before completing its final point. Give each paragraph one distinct purpose, avoid repeating the same benefits, and use clear references and transitions to show how each example supports your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the central topic, with relevant terms such as “formal learning,” “play-based activities,” “creativity,” and “communication skills.” However, the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or awkward, which makes parts of the response difficult to follow. For example, “strictly order d” and “learns to how solvd” show problems with word form or spelling, while “activity to enjoy” is vague. Repetition of “children,” “play,” and “activities” also limits flexibility. Build a small set of accurate topic collocations, such as “develop problem-solving skills” and “support children’s overall development,” and check spelling and word forms carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including a reason clause beginning “because” and a contrast introduced by “although.” However, complex sentences are often faulty, and frequent errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles and punctuation sometimes make the meaning hard to follow. For instance, “the people who argue that primary school focus too much only on learning because…” is an incomplete, confusing construction, while “the sports are giving to children it helps” combines clauses without correct structure or agreement. The final sentence, “Although academic help children…,” is also incomplete. Practise building complete sentences with one clear main clause, then add a correctly formed supporting clause; check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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