Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-10

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)

There is no doubt that some University students want to learn other courses, mainly those students who prefer their interest, in addition to main subjects. While, some students also suppose that it is very important to give their all dedication to studying for qualification.

To some extent, they are all right but in some cases they also have negative image on society.

Now a days, Qualification and technology have the main role in our life. University students are more concern about their life as compare to other students. That's why, they wanted to learn all about their majors, but university syllabus were not decided by any university faculty. It take a lot of time to decide it and every year it also renew, if there is any adding or removing of course they do that. So, if any leaner wants to learn more courses its not a concern of university but some teachers are always ready to help them . However, any new topic, students have to do self study.

Secondly, it is not important to give all the time duration and concentration to their studies because when any student was in university level they know how to do smart study. Yes, learning new things very important but taking part in other co-curricular activities are also very significant for mental and physical health. When health is good then students give their attention to their studies. I also have my own experience about university life. In first two semesters, I also thought that I have to gave my all efforts to achieve A grade but I am wrong because only smart study worked properly. After that, i took parts in many other activities like sport weeks, societies, events. These activities always enhanced me and teaches me a lot of new things.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument, but the development is inconsistent. While you mention the importance of focusing on a qualification versus learning additional subjects, the arguments are somewhat disjointed. The discussion regarding university syllabus management is largely irrelevant to the prompt, which asks for your opinion on the value of learning additional subjects. Your personal experience is included, which is a positive step, but the connection between 'smart study' and the prompt's core question could be more clearly articulated. To improve, ensure every sentence directly supports your position on whether students should broaden their studies or focus exclusively on their major.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is frequently interrupted by unclear transitions and awkward phrasing. For instance, the transition 'To some extent, they are all right but in some cases they also have negative image on society' is confusing and lacks a clear referent. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Secondly' and 'However', but they are often applied mechanically or incorrectly. The referencing is sometimes ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'very important' and 'good', which are repetitive. There are also instances of word-choice errors, such as 'they also have negative image on society' (should be 'a negative impact') and 'enhanced me' (which is not standard usage in this context). While you attempt to use some academic vocabulary, the lack of control over collocations and word forms limits the effectiveness of your communication. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'university syllabus were not decided'), tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'when any student was in university level'), and missing articles. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tenses will help improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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