Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-07
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)
People have different opinions about whether university students should learn their own subject or also learn other subjects. This essay will discuss boat views. In my opinion, students should learn about their own subjects instead of other because if you gives more time to main subject they will provide more knowledge.
On the one hand, main subjects will give more knowledge if we pay attention in this way our knowledge will be strong. It also gives good grades. if we focus on main subjects it helps to became a professional expert in our field. For instance, if medical doctors focus on the study of medicine they may become a professional doctors.
On the other hands, other subjects in addition to their main subjects gives opportunities to learn new skills. Due to this, it develop critical thinking and creativity. Students become a all-round personality. if students pay attention on others subjects it provides a better job opportunities. For example, if computer science students learn business as a result they can make and run their own software house in the future.
In conclusion, there are valid arguments on both sides. First view suggest that university students should focus on their main subjects because it provide more knowledge and became professional expert in own field. While the second view suggest that other subjects provide opportunities to learn new skills. However, i believe that focus on main subjects provide more knowledge and become a professional expert in the field. it also provides a long term benefits
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide examples, such as medical doctors or computer science students, the explanation remains superficial. The conclusion reiterates your position, but the arguments could be more thoroughly extended to reach a higher band. The task is fully addressed, but the depth of analysis is consistent with a band 6 level, as the supporting points are somewhat repetitive and lack nuanced exploration of the benefits of a broader curriculum.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hands', and 'In conclusion' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are minor errors in referencing and pluralization (e.g., 'On the other hands'). The flow between sentences is generally logical, but the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother to improve the overall cohesion of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'give more knowledge' and 'professional expert'. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'all-round personality' and 'software house' (which is less common in this context). While the meaning is always clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of minor errors in word formation limit the score to a band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'if you gives', 'other subjects... gives', 'it provide') and article usage. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects and that plural/singular forms are used consistently. The punctuation is generally acceptable, but the grammatical control needs to be more consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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