Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-13

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)

In recent years, the issue of whether some universities should offer extra courses is a topic of significant debate. While some sectors of the society believe that students should learn other courses for flexibility and extra value, others are of the opinion that learners should concentrate on studying for a qualification. Although extra courses might distract students from their main courses, I believe this is a positive development.

One of the main reason why others believe that extra subjects should not be offered is that they distract learners from their main qualification. This is because giving a student more load reduces the time taken to study the main course. This might end up compromising on the quality of the passes and some students might end up failing. At Bindura University some students have even dropped the main subject and ended up only studying the extra course. Additionally, normally extra courses come with a cost. Therefore, more courses implies that students are to pay more money. This adds an extra burden to learners in terms of expenses.

However, extra subjects add more value to the students and they become more valuable. Students with extra skills offers more services to their companies and they easily get employed. In Zimbabwe there are some teachers who can fix computers. Those schools do not need to hire a technician in the event of a computer fault. There are some doctors who can also do accounts books. Those professionals can actually balance accounts books for their surguries. Therefore, it is important for students to get an opportunity to study extra subjects.

In conclusion, although extra courses add extra load, they add value to learners and universities should offer them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses both views and gives a clear opinion: the introduction and conclusion support offering additional subjects, while the body paragraphs explain concerns about distraction and cost and benefits such as employability. The examples from Bindura University and Zimbabwean professionals make the discussion relevant. This meets the task well, but development is uneven: the risks of extra study are explained through workload, possible failure and expense, whereas the benefits rely mainly on brief examples and broad claims such as students becoming “more valuable.” To strengthen the response, explain more fully how learning another subject complements a qualification, and qualify or support generalisations about employment and professional skills. The position is clear, though the opening refers to what universities should offer rather than directly framing the choice students face.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a conclusion that restates the writer’s position. The contrast between the views is easy to follow, and signposts such as “However,” “Additionally,” and “Therefore” help guide the reader. This is coherent, but some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “Therefore” and the predictable contrast between paragraphs. A few references could also be clearer: “Those schools” follows the example of teachers who can fix computers, but the connection between the teachers’ skills and the schools’ benefit could be stated more directly. Use a wider range of transitions and connect each example explicitly to the point it supports to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for discussing education, costs and employment, with relevant terms such as “qualification,” “compromising,” “extra burden,” and “employed.” There are also attempts at more specific language, including “technician” and “balance accounts books.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, and some repetition of “extra courses,” “students” and “value” limits flexibility. Phrases such as “some sectors of the society,” “more load,” and “quality of the passes” do not express the intended ideas naturally. Spelling and word-form choices such as “surguries” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise collocations and vary repeated terms; for example, describe the effect on academic performance rather than the “quality of the passes.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession clause (“Although extra courses might distract students…”) and cause-and-effect sentences. Most ideas remain clear, and errors rarely prevent understanding. Some agreement and article errors persist: “One of the main reason” should be “One of the main reasons,” and “extra skills offers” should be “extra skills offer.” There are also awkward or incomplete grammatical patterns, as in “more courses implies that students are to pay more money,” and “compromising on the quality” is not well formed in this context. Review subject–verb agreement, plural forms and verb patterns, then proofread sentences with multiple clauses. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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