Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-19
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)
It is undoubtedly true that History repeats itself. Many people believe that History is a crucial subject in school, other individuals think that Science and technology can't hold a candle to history. The following essay will discuss the both views with my take at the end.
Firstly, in the modern times invention of new technology and science is gradually inclining, so it is integral for pupils to explore this field as it will rose the different upcoming career opportunities etcetera. For example, in the past there were less vacancies related to computer ,yet the technological jobs have increased in the recent years. Thus, greater knowledge about new inventions consequent to higher employment and advancement in the information stored in the Brain.
Secondly, homo-sapiens have passed through many critical situations such as world war-1,lack of food, floods etcetera which directly or indirectly leads to population extinction. It can be seen from the evidences that there are patterns of humans which they follow regularly without realizing their consequences which results in the situations which are harmful for humans. Therefore it is important for an individual to study about ancient times to avoid those mistakes in the present and the future.
My take on this is, both history and science plays a pivotal role in public's life, with the help of latest technologies like computer, smart phones we are able to get deep facts about history and with the help of history, we are able to identify our mistakes that stop us from inventing more advanced technology.
After pondering, it can be seen that both study of past and science in important. Moreover, it helps in the overall development and fulfilling different needs of the individual.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 uneven. The argument for science and technology is supported by a general example regarding job vacancies, but the explanation of how history prevents mistakes is a bit abstract and could benefit from a more concrete historical example. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that each viewpoint is supported by more specific, well-explained examples rather than generalizations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'etcetera' which is informal and should be avoided in academic writing. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall flow of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'pivotal' and 'integral'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'invention... is gradually inclining' and 'rose the different upcoming career opportunities'. The use of 'etcetera' is inappropriate for an academic essay. While the meaning is clear, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and the student relies on some repetitive structures. Expanding the range of collocations would help improve the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'discuss the both views' (should be 'both views'), 'will rose' (should be 'will raise'), and 'science in important' (should be 'science is important'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are occasionally problematic. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. More attention to proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and verb forms is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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