Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-11
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 5.0)
Well it is true that some university students want to learn different subjects in addition to their main subjects. Some people believe that it is important that university students should focus on their university degree other than random subjects. It is because they pay their fee and also spend a lot of money to get their degree if they do not focus on their degree it would case a lot of problems for them and also for their family if they get bad results they waste their parents money and their time. Then in future it will be bad for both of them.
So, learning is a good habit and it is good to learn new books especially if they are related to your degree or course means that those books which are not included in your syllabus but related to your syllabus those books will help you in future but first you should complete your lesson then you are able to learn further new books.
Such as a student who earns degree in the bachelors of Computer science in his free time when he already compete his lessons and learns about the software of different companies instead of playing video games or scrolling .In future those software help him in getting a job because it is related to his field.
According to my opinion learning other subjects after completing your lessons of main subjects are not bad but it will help you in future and boost your career and you will reach your destination easily.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the financial burden of university, the argument regarding learning additional subjects is underdeveloped and relies on a single example of a computer science student. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the benefits of interdisciplinary learning, such as critical thinking or adaptability in the modern workforce, rather than focusing primarily on syllabus-related books. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack depth and academic rigor.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by a lack of cohesive devices. Many sentences are linked by simple conjunctions like 'and' or 'also', making the progression feel mechanical. There is a lack of transition words to signal shifts between the two viewpoints (e.g., 'On the other hand', 'Conversely'). Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the phrase 'both of them' in the first paragraph, which creates ambiguity. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple terms like 'good', 'bad', and 'learn'. There is little attempt to use less common or academic vocabulary. Phrases like 'random subjects' and 'scrolling' are informal and not well-suited for an academic essay. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic collocations and synonyms to express your ideas with greater sophistication. For instance, instead of 'bad results', consider 'academic underperformance'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they are often punctuated incorrectly, leading to run-on sentences and comma splices (e.g., '...scrolling .In future those software help him...'). There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('those software help him' should be 'that software helps him') and article usage. The lack of variety in sentence structure and the persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation limit the clarity of your message and prevent the essay from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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