Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.0)

There are few university students who desire to learn other subjects additionally to their primary subjects while others believe that it is necessary to focus on achieving qualification. I will be discussing both of the views in the subsequent paragraphs.

There are some university students who want to explore other subjects while pursuing their main subjects. This is entirely valid, as their other subject of interests might not be fulfilled particularly by their primary subjects, which brings them certificate qualifications. Moreover, exploring other subjects helps one broaden their horizons and fulfill their desire of interest. For instance, I had a friend of mine, who had a major in economics while pursuing theatre on the side. She later on accomplished her career in acting and made a fortune out of it. This further proves that learning multiple subjects would benefit one way or the other.

On the other hand, it is not exactly wrong that we need to focus on main subjects for obtaining a qualification. As, people who cannot balance between their subjects end up getting distracted easily and achieve none. I remember, my cousin having multiple subjects side by side and getting too much into them which resulted in delay for a year in acquiring the certificate for the main subjects. Not being able to focus on either of the subjects could lead to such backfires eventually.

Lastly, if one is sure that they can succeed while exploring other subjects while pursuing the main ones, they can take up as many subjects as they can. However, it is also true that students should not gamble their future away while exploring other subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and give a qualified opinion: students may pursue additional subjects if they can manage them, but should not risk their main qualification. The examples about your friend studying theatre and your cousin delaying a certificate make the discussion relevant. However, the two positions are not developed equally. The benefits of broader learning are explained through personal interest and career opportunity, while the case for concentrating on a qualification is mainly illustrated by one negative outcome. Explain more fully why focused study matters, such as the demands of a course or the value of completing a recognised qualification. Your final position is clear, but it could be stated more directly and supported with a fuller comparison of the two views.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a concluding position. The progression from the benefits of exploring other subjects to the risks of divided attention is easy to follow, and examples are placed in the relevant paragraphs. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and also shows some stronger control through paragraphing and logical sequencing. However, links can feel mechanical: “Moreover,” “For instance,” “On the other hand,” and “Lastly” announce each step rather than showing the precise relationship between ideas. The conclusion also introduces a condition without clearly drawing together the discussion. Use more varied, specific links and make the final paragraph synthesise the two arguments.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for the topic, including phrases such as “broaden their horizons,” “achieving qualification,” “getting distracted,” and “gamble their future away.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the examples are understandable. You also attempt less common expressions, but some are inaccurate or unnatural: “subjects additionally to their primary subjects,” “subject of interests,” and “desire of interest” do not express the intended meaning idiomatically. “Accomplished her career” is also an awkward collocation. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than formal-sounding wording; for example, use “in addition to,” “areas of interest,” and “built a career in acting.” This would make your vocabulary more flexible and accurate while preserving your clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“who had a major in economics”) and conditional structures (“if one is sure that they can succeed”). Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “As, people who cannot balance…” is an incorrectly punctuated fragment, and “I remember, my cousin having…” has an awkward sentence structure. The phrase “while pursuing their main subjects” is also repeated in ways that make sentence construction less controlled. Practise forming complete clauses after linking words and using consistent, natural patterns for reporting past events: “I remember that my cousin took several subjects…” Reviewing articles and plural forms in phrases such as “obtaining a qualification” will also improve accuracy.

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