Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-07-25

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 6.5)

The topic given is indeed a fact that some students studies other subjects along with their main subjects. It can be beneficial but can also affect your grades. Depending upon interests students learning other subject may have more passion for that subject or they may have a hobby of reading books. Reading books is in fact good habit but in case if it doesn't affect your grades. People can gain extra knowledge by studying them but the main focus should be on your own subject because at the end you will have your qualification degree in your hand. If the grades are good and you qualify for jobs so might get a white collar job. Other subject books you studied rather than your own subject wouldn't benefit you in getting a job because in most of cases people are called for an interview by seeing their grades at first place. Once you are called for an interview then you can prove yourself that I have much knowledge from every aspect of life because I have studied other subjects too, but If you are not called for an interview, how can one prove himself.

I will give example of my university roommate in hostel, who often studied poetry books rather than engineering subjects. Now he is struggling because he knows more poetry and have much knowledge of poets instead of engineering and he is suffering now with financial strains because poetry doesn't earn him enough money for life spending. So everyone first focus on your subjects and then can study your other interests.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. The argument relies heavily on a single anecdote about a roommate, which lacks the depth required for a higher band. The discussion on the importance of grades for job interviews is relevant but could be expanded with more sophisticated reasoning regarding the holistic benefits of education. The position is consistent throughout, but the overall analysis remains at a surface level, preventing it from reaching the higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into two main paragraphs, but the transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt. While there is a logical progression, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'The topic given is indeed', 'In case if'). The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the shift from general students to the specific example of the roommate. Paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the two opposing views from the personal opinion and conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. There is a reliance on simple, repetitive phrasing like 'other subjects' and 'main subjects'. Some collocations are unnatural, such as 'life spending' and 'white collar job' used in a slightly awkward context. While the meaning is generally clear, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('some students studies', 'he knows more poetry and have much knowledge') and awkward sentence construction ('in case if it doesn't affect your grades'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the control over complex sentences is inconsistent. The errors do not prevent communication, but they are noticeable throughout the text.

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