Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-05

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)

People often argue that music is one of the good ways to bring people of various cultures and ages together. I largely agree with this view, although music also brings personal comfort and peace.

One of the greatest ways to bring people of diverse cultures and ages together is music. This is because people in general love music. They also love music that is foreign to them. For example, Shakira, one of the most famous singers, can sing or make music in over 25 languages. Through her, people got to know about the various cultures of different countries. Not only that, she dances to that music that is native to the cultures. As a result, people explored and started to love music that is not even from their country.

Moreover, music can bring people of different ages together. There are music that are liked by all age groups, such as pop music and rock music. For example, in Bangladesh there is a wide range of bands that play rock music and pop music. The people who listen to this music are from all age groups. As a result, music brings people of various ages together.

However, music also offers personal comfort and peace. Music can calm or soothe someone's mind. Music can also help people meditate or focus. For example, students listen to soft music when they are studying. This helps them focus on their academics. As a result, they do better in their academic life.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that one of the greatest significances of music is to bring people of different cultures and ages together. Although music can provide comfort and peace, it can be used to improve the well-being of society, culture, and communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by agreeing with the statement and providing reasons for both cultural and age-related unity. However, the development is somewhat limited. The paragraph regarding personal comfort is slightly off-topic as it does not directly support the argument about bringing people together, which is the core of the prompt. While the position is clear, the supporting examples, such as the mention of Shakira, are a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should focus on more nuanced explanations of how music acts as a bridge, rather than just stating that people 'love' it. The conclusion effectively restates the position, but the essay would benefit from deeper analysis of the social mechanisms involved.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as cultural unity or age-related connection. Cohesive devices like 'Moreover,' 'For example,' and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the third paragraph (personal comfort) and the main argument is weak, which disrupts the overall flow of the argument. Improving the logical connection between paragraphs would enhance the coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You rely on basic descriptors like 'good ways,' 'famous,' and 'love.' While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'diverse cultures' and 'well-being,' the range is somewhat limited. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, but the lexical range does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band. Incorporating more precise synonyms and collocations related to social cohesion and cultural exchange would significantly improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'There are music that are liked' (should be 'There is music that is liked') and 'dances to that music that is native' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they are noticeable. You have a decent grasp of basic grammar, but to achieve a higher score, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over complex structures and ensure subject-verb agreement is accurate throughout the text.

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

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