Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-13

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 6.0)

It is often argued that history is one of the most important school subjects, whereas others believe that science has more value. While I agree that learning history helps students understand their culture, I believe that science is more important because it teaches practical problem-solving skills.

While studying history gives useful knowledge about the past, its main benefit is helping young people connect with their culture. Since learning about history broadens a student's view of the world, it builds a real interest in local traditions. Traditional history classes often focus on remembering old events, whereas cultural activities encourage students to protect their heritage. Because participating in historical projects builds pride in local customs, students join community events, and society keeps its unique identity.

If schools focus more on science subjects, students will develop the logical thinking skills needed for modern jobs. Science education involves practical experiments, which means that learners solve difficult problems by using facts rather than memory. Despite the cultural importance of history, learning about past events provides fewer practical skills for everyday life. For instance, when teachers combine scientific theories with hands-on experiments, students learn how to think critically and solve real-world problems easily.

In conclusion, although history offers clear cultural benefits, studying science is more useful for a student's future. Therefore, schools should give more attention to scientific subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the importance of history and the value of science and technology, while clearly stating a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant, with the student arguing that history fosters cultural connection while science develops practical problem-solving skills. However, the response falls short of the required 250-word minimum, containing only 223 words. This under-length issue directly impacts the level of development and extension required for higher bands, preventing the response from reaching Band 7. Consequently, the score is capped at Band 6.0 due to the incomplete word count and somewhat limited extension of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear overall arrangement with an introduction, two distinct body paragraphs representing the two views, and a concise conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately. Cohesive devices are employed to connect ideas, such as 'While studying history', 'Despite the cultural importance', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly repetitive or mechanical. For instance, the transition at the beginning of paragraphs relies heavily on simple time or concession clauses ('While studying...', 'If schools focus...'). Progression is logical overall, but the somewhat predictable linking and the shorter-than-recommended length prevent it from achieving a Band 7. Overall, cohesion is sufficient to make the text easy to follow, supporting a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using topic-related terms such as 'cultural traditions', 'heritage', 'practical experiments', and 'critical thinking'. There are attempts to use less common expressions like 'logical thinking skills' and 'hands-on experiments'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is effective for communicating the core arguments, it lacks the broader flexibility, precision, and stylistic sophistication characteristic of Band 7. The writer relies on fairly standard academic collocations without exploring more advanced or subtle lexical items. Therefore, a Band 6.0 is awarded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a reasonable mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over subordinate clauses introduced by 'whereas', 'although', and 'since'. For example, sentences such as 'Since learning about history broadens a student's view of the world, it builds a real interest in local traditions' show good structural control. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with the majority of sentences being free of major errors. Minor awkwardness in phrasing appears occasionally, but punctuation and syntax are handled well enough to ensure communication is never impeded. Because complex structures are attempted and managed accurately, but the overall variety and frequency of complex sentences remain somewhat limited, a Band 7.0 is well-deserved.

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