Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-04

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)

i would agree with this statement as i also believe that music can bring people from different backgrounds together. for a person to understand music, they do not have to know the language as it connects human beings on emotional level.

the surge of dopamine that an individual feels when listening to their favorite music puts them in a good mood instantly. people tend to talk freely about things they love. for instance, during a concert there are people mostly from all over the world but they all seem to enjoy, dance and sing together without even knowing each other. this is human nature that they need a familiar topic or experience to connect with someone. if two people have similar taste in music, they will instantly connect with each other talking about their favorite songs, relating to the lyrics and so on.

music can lift your mood or bring back past experiences as we link feelings with things so when a familiar music plays all the old memories rush back, making a human vulnerable. i have a song that my friend and i absolutely love, and i remember the first time we ever met at a cafe, this song was playing and we instantly started talking about that song and how we love the background music even though we are from completely different cities and backgrounds but that one music helped us connect in ways that nothing else could.

to conclude, i would say that music is the best possible way of bringing people together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by expressing a clear position in favor of music as a unifying force. The ideas are relevant, such as the emotional connection music provides and its role in social bonding at concerts. However, the development is somewhat limited. The explanation of why music transcends language is brief, and the personal anecdote, while illustrative, takes up a significant portion of the essay without fully exploring the broader societal implications of the prompt. To reach a higher band, the response should expand on how music bridges generational gaps or cultural divides more explicitly, rather than focusing primarily on individual experiences.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a central focus. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes repetitive. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. There is a reliance on simple linking words, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition to this'). Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs lacks the sophisticated progression required for a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. The student uses common phrases like 'good mood' and 'talk freely', which are functional but not particularly sophisticated. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'that one music' (which should be 'that piece of music'). While the meaning is always clear, the lack of less common lexical items and precise collocations limits the score. To improve, the student should incorporate more academic vocabulary related to social interaction and cultural exchange.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in punctuation and capitalization. For example, the essay begins with a lowercase 'i', and there is a consistent lack of capitalization for the start of sentences throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they are persistent. There are also minor grammatical slips, such as 'a human vulnerable' instead of 'making a human feel vulnerable'. The range of structures is sufficient for a 6.0, but the lack of attention to basic mechanics prevents a higher score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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