Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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)

According to my opinion, formal learning plays an important role in developmwnt of children. Along with that activities also important for them. I strongly agree with the opinion the play is also as important as learning for children at schools.

Primary schools plays a vital role in student life. It is the very first step of the children learning behaviour. As the primary schools focus on the learning too much which makes the child dull and slow. In Pakistan many schools with huge amount of fee structures just focuses on the learning behaviour which makes the student poor.

Futhermore, students have more activities rather than learning in schools to make them productive and active. Sports plays an important role in student life. Sports make the mind relax. Physical activities makes our body fit and strong. Indoor and outdoor activities both are necassary for body development.

In my opnion, learning is important for student but play time is also backbone of student life. No play and only study makes students dull and inactive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear general position that play matters alongside formal learning, and you mention relevant reasons such as physical fitness, relaxation, and keeping pupils active. However, the response addresses the task only partially: it does not explain in detail how much you agree that schools focus too heavily on formal learning, and the claim about Pakistani schools is not supported with a specific example. The discussion of play is also brief, with no explanation of how classroom play might support learning or social development. The response is 172 words, below the required 250, so there is not enough development to fully answer both questions. Extend each main point with explanation and a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

Your ideas are grouped into paragraphs, and signposts such as “Furthermore” and “In my opinion” help show a basic sequence. The overall progression, however, is limited: the opening states your view, the next paragraph makes a broad claim about schools, and the final paragraph repeats that play is important without adding a developed conclusion. Some links between ideas are unclear, particularly the move from high school fees to students becoming “poor.” Repetition of “important,” “student life,” and “dull” also makes the response feel repetitive. Build a clearer progression by giving each body paragraph one main point, then connect the explanation and example directly to that point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a small set of relevant words, including “formal learning,” “physical activities,” and “productive and active,” so the main topic is generally understandable. However, the vocabulary range is limited and several choices or combinations are unnatural, such as “learning behaviour,” “huge amount of fee structures,” and “play time is also backbone.” Spelling errors, including “Futhermore,” “necassary,” and “opnion,” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Try to use more precise terms for the effects of play and formal instruction, and check spelling carefully. For example, describe what activities develop—such as cooperation or problem-solving—instead of relying repeatedly on general words like “important” and “dull.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates its main ideas through mostly simple sentences, with a few attempts at longer structures, such as “As the primary schools focus on the learning too much which makes the child dull and slow.” These longer constructions are often faulty, and errors occur frequently in agreement and sentence structure: “Primary schools plays,” “Sports plays,” and “Physical activities makes” should use plural verb forms. The opening phrase “According to my opinion” is also not formed naturally, and the first sentence has an incomplete or unclear construction around “plays an important role in developmwnt.” Use a wider range of sentence patterns, but first practise accurate subject–verb agreement and complete clauses.

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