Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-18
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Yes, I strongly agree, support and believe that music is a very good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. There are a number of benefits of listening to music. It connects people from their heart to soul and with each other. All the people of different age groups and cultures enjoy music, though their taste and choice of music may be different but we all have to accept the fact that we all love listening to music. As we look back into the history of mankind, it gives us the evidence of presence of music overall the world and in various civilization. Various types of music was present during the different timelines of human evolution and development. Earlier as well look back into the history, people used natural materials to generate various tunes and rhythm. They used to create music to express feelings, or make celebrations or simply to vibe on something. Later, they were able to make different types of musical instruments. With the advancement and development of humans, music spread from one place to another over time. Within a few seconds, we are now capable of accessing music all over the world at any time. Isn't is awesome!
Music not only helps us to express our feelings but it also unites us people from the bottom of our heart. Let's take a simple example for this. One of the most illustrates and provocative singer Taylor Swift. She is an American singer and performer, but if you look closely she has a huge number of fans in India as well. On the basis of music only she brings out her fans of varied ages and cultures as well. So her music is bringing all types of people together, and hence proved that music is one of the good ways of bringing people of various cultures and ages together.
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 the prompt by clearly stating an agreement with the premise. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention the historical evolution of music, the connection to how it specifically bridges cultural and age gaps is not fully explored or supported with deep analysis. The example of Taylor Swift is relevant but lacks sufficient detail to illustrate the 'age' aspect of the prompt effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph provides a more robust explanation of the 'how' and 'why' behind your arguments, moving beyond general statements to more specific, analytical points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is generally coherent, and there is a logical progression from historical context to a modern-day example. Paragraphing is present, though the transition between the historical overview and the specific example of Taylor Swift feels slightly abrupt. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'As we look back' and 'Let's take a simple example', which help guide the reader. However, the flow could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases to connect your sentences and ideas more fluidly. The overall structure is clear, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be more refined.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'evolution', 'advancement', and 'provocative'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'most illustrates' (should be 'illustrious') and 'vibe on something' (which is too informal for an academic essay). The vocabulary is generally sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding informal idioms or conversational fillers like 'Isn't is awesome!'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully use some complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'Various types of music was present' (subject-verb agreement), 'unites us people' (redundant), and 'Isn't is awesome!' (punctuation and spelling). These errors do not generally impede communication, but they are noticeable. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and ensure that your punctuation is accurate. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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