Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-11
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say History is one of the most important school subjects. Other people think that in today’s world subjects like Science and technology are more important than History.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant example form your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Some people argue that History subject is more important than other school subjects and other people think nowadays subjects like Science and technology are more essential than History. This essay will discuss both views and will provide a specific opinion with reasons and relevant examples.
On the first hand, few people argue that History is one of the most important school subjects. They think new generation can learn their culture, trends and spiritual values from their history. For example, as the majority population of the world consist of youngsters they can learn history in their school life if there is a subject of history. With this perspective, the older generation are becoming extinct. So, there is only way for young generation to learn history is from history as a school subject.
On the other hand, some people though nowadays other subjects like science and technology are more important than history. They though we are living in the era of science and technology where every field of life includes science and technology. So, they though these subjects have higher value than history subject. For example, a student has a option to choose single subject among history, science and technology, if student choose history, no doubt he will learn history and become a highly cultural and spiritual person but can't compete with today's world, as we are in a modern era of science and technology.
In conclusion, my opinion is with science and technology because young generation need to run with the trend which is absolutely in science and technology. Progress is with the trend not in the past culture.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument for history is vague, relying on general statements about 'culture' and 'spiritual values' without concrete examples. The argument for science and technology is more focused but remains repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, real-world examples—such as how historical knowledge prevents political mistakes or how technological literacy drives economic growth—rather than repeating the same points about the 'modern era'. The position is consistent, but the supporting arguments lack depth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the first hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help the reader follow the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or unnatural, such as 'With this perspective' or the incorrect use of 'On the first hand' (the standard phrase is 'On the one hand'). Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on basic terms like 'important', 'subject', and 'science and technology'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'majority population of the world consist of youngsters' and 'no doubt he will learn history'. To improve, you should incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to education and societal development, and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'they though' instead of 'they thought'), missing articles (e.g., 'History subject' instead of 'the subject of history'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'my opinion is with science and technology'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on verb tense consistency and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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