Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-10

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)

It is often argued that university students should focus on their study relevant to a qualification, while some students are eager to learn other subjects. I firmly believe students should concentrate on their main subjects. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On the one hand, students are giving attention to studying for a qualification to make them experts in their subjects. When one student focuses on his main subjects and gives his all at once, then it makes him learn about everything about his subject, and whatever problems he faces in his subject can be easily solved. Moreover, it improves his skills and expertise, and more career opportunities open for him.

On the other hand, learning other subjects alongside main subjects diverts students' attention. Because when he needs to fully concentrate on his main subjects, he wastes time learning about other subjects. For example, if a teacher gives an assignment, then one student who just gives attention to his main subjects scores good marks as compared to the student who is indulging in learning other subjects. As a result, his academic performance will be reduced. In my view, in order to learn other subjects, students should fix one time and learn in their spare time so that there is enough time for them to fully focus on their studies.

In conclusion, it is essential for students to give their full time and attention to studying for a qualification to gain skills and expertise in their subjects and to have spare time to learn about other subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear opinion in the introduction and conclusion: students should prioritise their main subjects, while using spare time to explore others. You also address both views and give a relevant example about assignment performance. However, the discussion is uneven: the benefits of focusing on a qualification are explained through expertise and career opportunities, but the case for studying additional subjects is not developed as a positive view. The example mainly supports your argument against dividing attention, rather than explaining what broader learning can offer. To strengthen the response, develop both sides with specific reasons or examples, then make your comparison and opinion more fully supported. The stated length requirement is met.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs beginning “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. This makes the overall line of argument easy to follow. Some connections, however, are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Because when he needs to fully concentrate…” is an awkward sentence opening, and “As a result, his academic performance” leaves the reference to “his” somewhat unclear after comparing two students. The conclusion also repeats the main point without adding a clear synthesis of the two views. Use linking phrases selectively, make pronoun references explicit, and ensure each paragraph progresses from its main claim to explanation and evidence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “qualification,” “expertise,” “career opportunities,” and “academic performance,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, the range is limited by repeated words such as “subjects,” “learn,” and “attention,” and several expressions are not natural collocations. For instance, “gives his all at once” and “indulging in learning other subjects” do not express the intended ideas precisely; “focuses fully” and “spends time studying additional subjects” would be more natural. “Study relevant to a qualification” is also awkwardly phrased. Build a wider set of accurate academic expressions for discussing specialisation and broader learning, and check that each phrase fits its context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple and complex forms, including a conditional structure in “if a teacher gives an assignment” and a purpose clause in “so that there is enough time.” The main ideas remain understandable, but some sentence structures are awkward or incomplete. “Because when he needs to fully concentrate…” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence, while “As a result, his academic performance will be reduced” has an unclear pronoun reference. There are also agreement and article issues, such as “one student … makes him learn” and “gives his all,” where the phrasing does not fit the subject naturally. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and consistent references, and vary clause patterns while checking agreement and punctuation.

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