Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Many tertiary education learners prefer to study additional subjects alongside their main qualification while other consider to give full focus and time on the main course. In my opinion, focusing on the main subject is also good but learning about additional subjects will give more knowledge and skills to students.

On the one hand, students who wanted to study only about their primary subjects would be more experenced only in those subjects. They will also have less pressure in their learning paths, moreover, they ought to obtain good results in exams. For instance, medical students have to study too many modules alongwith biology, as a result, learners become burdernized. They will not have flexibility in their jobs decision as they can only be employee of the field related to their subjects.

On the other hand, individuals owning to obtain knowledge about different courses other than their field subjects will gain multiple skills as tgey would experience new things which would help them shape their career. For example, a computer engineering student also pursuing a course in business management will be more likely to start his own setup after graduation, furthermore, the students will have the opportunity of better employment as companies need one's who are more skilled and experienced.

In conclusion, according to my opinion stidents gaining more knowledge about multiple subjects will be more talented and more likely to get jobs rather than the ones who sticks only to their own subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a clear preference for studying additional subjects, supported by relevant examples such as a computer engineering student taking business management. However, the discussion is uneven: the benefits of focusing on a main subject are mentioned, but the point about having less pressure is not explained, and the claim that students become restricted to jobs in their field needs clearer support. Your conclusion repeats your preference rather than drawing together the reasons. The response also falls seven words short of the required minimum, so it needs a little more development as well as additional length. Explain how each option affects students’ learning or career prospects, and make your position consistent from the introduction through to the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the comparison, and examples are placed with the relevant arguments. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. In the first body paragraph, “moreover” and “as a result” connect claims without showing a precise relationship, while the sentence about job flexibility shifts abruptly from exam pressure. The final paragraph also repeats the main position without summarising the preceding reasoning. Improve progression by grouping related points, using clearer cause-and-effect links, and making references such as “they” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “qualification,” “primary subjects,” “modules,” “multiple skills,” and “employment.” These choices make the subject of the essay clear, and phrases such as “shape their career” show an attempt to use less basic language. However, several inaccurate or awkward expressions reduce precision: “burdernized,” “owning to obtain knowledge,” “jobs decision,” and “one’s who are more skilled” are not natural in context. There are also spelling errors, including “experenced,” “tgey,” and “stidents.” Aim for accurate collocations and proofread spelling; precise phrases such as “career choices” and “gain knowledge” would communicate your ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while,” “as,” and “which,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, errors in sentence structure and agreement recur. For example, “other consider” needs a plural verb, while “the ones who sticks” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “For instance, medical students…” joins several ideas with commas and would be clearer if divided or restructured. There are also problems with verb forms and articles, as in “students who wanted to study” when describing a general group and “be employee.” Work on consistent present-tense forms, agreement, and sentence boundaries, while continuing to use complex clauses.

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