Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-18

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)

I strongly agree this music is an effective way of bringing people from different cultures and age groups together. Music is a universal form of communication, and people can enjoy it even when they speak different languages or have different backgrounds.

Firstly, music can help people from different cultures understand each other. Many people listen to songs from other coutries and become interested in their language, traditionals and lifestyles. For example, korean music has become popular among young people in many countries. Although listeners may not understand every word, they can still enjoy the melody and rhythm.In this way, music can create a connection between people from different cultures.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The student has attempted to address the prompt by stating a clear position that music brings people of different cultures and ages together, providing a relevant example regarding Korean music. However, the response is severely under-length at only 109 words, failing to meet the minimum requirement of 250 words. Consequently, the ideas are underdeveloped and lack the breadth and depth expected for a full Academic Task 2 response. Due to this significant shortfall in length, the task is only addressed partially, leading to a lower band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text shows some logical organisation with a clear introduction and a body paragraph initiated by a cohesive marker ('Firstly'). The progression of ideas is fairly easy to follow, as seen in the transition from the general statement that music aids cultural understanding to the specific example of Korean music. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped due to the overall brevity of the essay, and referencing is sometimes simplistic. Overall, the structural framework is coherent, but the limited development prevents it from reaching higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully using appropriate terms such as 'universal form of communication', 'backgrounds', and 'melody and rhythm'. There are a few spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'coutries' instead of countries and 'traditionals' instead of traditions, alongside a slight preposition slip in 'agree this music'. Nonetheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, representing a level typical of a Band 6 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or concessive clauses ('Although listeners may not understand every word, they can still enjoy...'). There are some minor errors, including a missing preposition in 'agree this music' and typographical issues, but these do not impede overall communication. The grammatical control shown in the sentences produced is fairly good, though the limited overall range resulting from the short text restricts the score.

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

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