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)

A number of university students like to learn other subjects in addition to their main subject while others think it is more important to focus on their main subject and study for a qualification. I personally think that it is more important to study other subjects also, rather than focusing on one subject because in everyday life an individual is exposed to a variety of things. If one don't know about those various things, he will will be unable to handle a situation and this will lead to a stressfull life.

The view of those who say that it is more neccessary to study additional subjects of your own interest is really important. The reasons thereof are as follows;

First , they say that without sufficient knowledge of the world around you is synonymous to be blind. If an individual is lacking such information as what's going on in the world world right now, what's the situation of different countries, their political situation, the financial status, their education and other areas he will be unable to make decisions and take the right steps to get financial freedom. Additionally, they believe that a person cannot study a few subjects on a daily basis. It will result in stress and students often feel exhausted all the time. If they don't take this serious then this leads them to drug abuse or suicidal attempts. These are a few of the numerous reasons that propose to study additional subjects also.

The second group claims that if a student studies more subjects then this means that he is putting a burden on his shoulders this will lead to his burnout. Furthermore, some people of this thought think that more subjects will detrack students form there own ambition or goal. Thus, he or she will end in a life where he will unable to decide that what path to take and what not.

Lastly, my opinion regarding learning additional subjects is that one should learn about the world he is living in, his society, country and the things which he loves to think, listen and hear about. This will make him a successful and in some sense a prosprous man.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for learning beyond a main subject, particularly in the opening and final paragraphs. The points about broader awareness and the risk of overload are relevant to the question. However, the discussion is uneven: the case for additional learning receives several claims, while the qualification-focused view is presented briefly and largely repeats concerns about burden and losing direction. Some claims, such as broader knowledge leading to financial freedom or narrow study causing drug abuse or suicidal attempts, are asserted without explanation or a specific example. Develop each side with a reasoned example, and explain how students can balance breadth with the demands of their qualification.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, separate discussion of the two views, and a concluding statement, so the reader can identify its broad structure. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, and signposts such as “First,” “Additionally,” and “Furthermore” show attempts to connect points. However, progression within paragraphs is not always clear: the first body paragraph moves from world knowledge to financial freedom and then to stress, without explaining the links. Some transitions are mechanical, and references such as “the second group” and “this” can leave the relationship between ideas unclear. Organise each paragraph around one central reason, then explain and illustrate it before moving to the next point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “qualification,” “financial status,” “burnout,” and “ambition,” and you attempt to express abstract ideas about education and society. However, the range is limited by repeated wording such as “subjects,” “study,” and “things,” while several choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural: “detrack,” “prosprous,” “stressfull,” and “synonymous to be blind.” These errors sometimes make the intended meaning less clear, even though the overall message remains understandable. Aim for more precise academic collocations and check spelling and word forms. For example, describe students as “losing focus on their goals” rather than using “detrack,” and use “prosperous” with its correct spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If one don't know…” and clauses introduced by “while” and “because.” This gives the response some variety, but control is inconsistent, especially in longer sentences. Examples include “If one don't know” (subject–verb agreement), “he will will be unable” (repetition), and “he will unable to decide” (missing verb). In “without sufficient knowledge … is synonymous,” the sentence structure is also faulty, and several long sentences need clearer punctuation. These errors can make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. Practise checking agreement, verb forms, and sentence boundaries, and divide complex ideas into shorter, complete sentences.

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