Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-17

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)

In today's rapidly changing world, some people believe that primary schools should focus too much on formal learning and I am totally against this opinion because i think children should have some time for the leisure activities on school classroom.

To begin with, if children spend some time in playing or doing other activities which helps them to reduce pressure of studies they will shows more interest in studies and remains healthy. It reduces stress and develop different problem-solving skills in a child which impacts their groomness. For example, if a children are allowed to play some time after studying they will be happy to come school next day and show more interest in studies and this will help them become extrovert when they grow up they will be healthy and mentally strong.

As well as, if primary schools just focus on their formal learning children might become rude and show less interest in studies because they can become mentally exausted and stressed which can lead them to depression and anxiety due to lack of leisure activities, So little refreshment and a break from studies after a class for a primary school child in very crucial and this can bring a significant impact on children behavior. It can also decide what they are in future.

In Conclusion,too much formal learning on a primary school children can create a lot of pressure on them and may mentally disturb them. So little bit of leisure activities after study in a classroom can improve their social harmony and overall wellbeing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you oppose excessive formal learning and support classroom play, which addresses both questions. You give relevant reasons, including reducing stress, encouraging interest in study, and developing problem-solving and social skills. However, the response only partially develops these points. For instance, the claim that play can help children become “extrovert” is asserted without explaining how, and the discussion of future behaviour remains general. The second question—how important play is alongside learning—could be answered more directly by explaining how teachers should balance the two. Add a specific example, such as a classroom activity that teaches a skill through play, and develop the link between that activity and children’s learning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The paragraphs generally stay focused on the benefits of play, and phrases such as “To begin with” and “In Conclusion” help signal stages of the argument. However, progression between ideas is sometimes repetitive: stress, interest in studies and wellbeing recur without a clear distinction between the points. Some linking phrases are awkward or do not show the relationship precisely, such as “As well as” at the start of the second body paragraph. The long sentence beginning “For example” also combines several outcomes without clear boundaries. Organise each body paragraph around one main reason, then explain and illustrate it before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “formal learning,” “problem-solving skills,” “depression and anxiety,” and “overall wellbeing.” These choices make your main concerns understandable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning less clear. Examples include “leisure activities on school classroom,” “reduce pressure of studies,” and “their groomness”; the last expression does not convey a clear meaning in this context. There are also spelling errors such as “exausted.” Aim to use precise, natural phrases and check spelling. Repeating “studies,” “children,” and “interest” can also be reduced by using suitable alternatives where the meaning remains clear.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “if children spend some time…” and clauses explaining consequences. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. For example, “they will shows more interest” has incorrect verb agreement, while “if a children are allowed” has an article and plural-agreement problem. In “It reduces stress and develop,” the verbs do not agree, and several sentences run together without appropriate punctuation. Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a clearly controlled subordinate clause. Check subject–verb agreement, singular and plural forms, articles, and sentence boundaries when proofreading.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.