Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-29

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)

History provides us with the vast information of our forefathers and also those of our idols so far. Without it we are unaware about the past life of the ones who has passed away with incredible amount of success stories and also guidance for the next generation. In the current time where it is the burning debate whether history is one of the crucial school subject or subjects like sciences and technologies are playing significant role then History.

Some people out there believe that without history the world is nothing. This is because it plays a vital role in everyone's life for their success and some people also use it as an equipment for gaining knowledge. If we observe then current generation is succeeding as a skyrocket by inspiring from their forefathers. They are trying to follow the same pathways their leaders did. We can take the current example in vision where people are taking up the business that was once established by their elders.

On the other side, people think that in today's world despite the history, science and technology gain relative consideration. However, the trend for these subjects are more in demand and people often see success in these fields for the future. The reason is that the world has transformed into artificial intelligence with equal demand of sciences .

Subsequently, i personally believe that nothing new can completely replace the old traditions, yet it can be update with time but the need of history can never die we are still in need of it. So history will going to last longer if new trends be introduced.

Therefore, the demand of History has requirements with time while the science and technology will undergo advancement in future aspects as well.

AI examiner evaluation

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 superficial. For instance, the argument for history relies on vague concepts like 'success stories' and 'equipment for gaining knowledge' without specific, concrete examples. The discussion on science and technology is also quite brief, mentioning 'artificial intelligence' but failing to explain why this makes it more important than history in a school curriculum. To reach a higher band, you need to extend your arguments with more detailed reasoning and specific, real-world examples rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'Subsequently, i personally believe' and 'On the other side'. The transition between ideas is occasionally abrupt, and the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the link between 'forefathers' and 'business' in the second paragraph is a bit disjointed. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'vast information of our forefathers' and 'succeeding as a skyrocket'. Phrases like 'burning debate' are used, but the overall range is limited. You tend to repeat basic vocabulary rather than using more sophisticated synonyms. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to education and societal development, and try to use more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'the ones who has passed away' (subject-verb agreement), 'crucial school subject' (missing plural), and 'history will going to last' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, and there are issues with article usage and word order. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage would be a great starting point for improvement.

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.