Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-12

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)

Some students believes that it is important to focus also on side subjects as well as on main, however on other hand some students want to focus only on there main subjects.

In my opinion those who want to focus on their main subject and also focus on there side subjects they gain more experience and knowledge compare to those who only focuses on their main subjects.

The students who focus only on there main subject there knowlegde is confined beacuse they only know about there the area which are they studying they did not know about the side fields, For example there was a student in pharmacy department Hamdard university, he was gaining knowledge in only pharmacy field and did not focus on the computer subjects after graduation the student came to market and start job at retail pharmacy, In pharmacy he did not know how to use the computer and keep records online in the excel sheets and poorly handled the stock due to lack of the computer knowledge.

Those who want to learn side subjects as well as main area of course have high advantage over those who did not want. Those learners who want to study additional subjects with main area of course they learn more and have wide knowledge of information, For example there was graduate of Iqra medical university who master himself in the main course as well as in the side subject then he came to the medical coding field from the start he earn more knowledge because he know the basics from side subjects like in statistics and from computer science.

In conclusion, the students who want to focus on additional subjects they have advantage over those who only study there main subject.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both positions: the paragraph about a pharmacy graduate shows the risks of concentrating only on a main subject, while the medical-coding example supports learning additional subjects. Your preference for broader study is also clear in the opening and conclusion. However, the discussion is uneven: the benefits of studying only for a qualification are not really explained from that viewpoint, and the examples carry most of the argument without much general explanation. The examples are relevant, but their connection to the wider question could be made more explicit. To strengthen the response, explain why some students prioritise their qualification—for instance, the depth of expertise or time required—and then weigh that against the advantages of complementary subjects.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two study approaches, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of your argument. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive: phrases such as “Those who want to learn side subjects” and “Those learners who want to study additional subjects” introduce very similar points. Some references are also unclear, particularly “they” in “they did not know about the side fields,” where the intended subject is not immediately obvious. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the point it illustrates. A more balanced sequence—one paragraph explaining each view, followed by a clear comparison—would make the overall progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “main subject,” “side subjects,” “knowledge,” “qualification,” and “medical coding,” so the central ideas can be understood. However, the range is limited and several expressions are repeated, especially “focus,” “subjects,” and “knowledge.” There are also noticeable word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems, such as “gain more experience and knowledge compare to,” “wide knowledge of information,” and “knowlegde.” These sometimes make the examples less clear or natural. Build a wider set of precise academic phrases for discussing benefits and drawbacks, and check spelling carefully. Prefer natural combinations such as “broaden their knowledge” and “develop expertise” rather than repeating general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including explanations and examples, but complex sentences are often difficult to control and errors occur frequently. For example, “Some students believes” has subject–verb disagreement, while “those who only focuses” also uses the wrong verb form. In “In my opinion those who want to focus … they gain,” the sentence structure is incomplete or duplicated, and several sentences run together with commas or lack clear punctuation. Verb tense shifts in the examples, such as “he was gaining” followed by “start job,” also reduce accuracy. Practise building complete sentences with one clear subject and verb, then check agreement, articles, tense consistency, and sentence boundaries before submitting.

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