Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-12
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)
There is a growing debate between some students wanting to add other subjects addition to ther main ones, while others believe it is crucial to pay all your attention on the amin subjects. It is important for students to have alternative knowledge, whereas it is also crucial for them to give all their time to study for a qualification.
On the one hand, pursuing other subjects could benefit them by providing wider knowledge and a backup plan. For instance, by learning subjects in other fields might be beneficial for them in the future as they get into a workplace, it could help them to do other kinds of jobs as well. Moreover, if students wish to change their profession in the future, having knowledge in other fields can help them to convert their jobs without any worries.
On the other hand, it can be detrimental for them to pursue different kinds of subjects. One disadvantage would be excessive amount of studying later can lead them to have inadequate knowledge in all their studies. This could leave them with nothing. Similiraly, their academic pressure would be ,uch worse than before and it could to bad academic performance. Furthermore, with all these things students might have delayed graduation or even not graduate at all.
In conclusion, knowing other subjects can benefit them in the future when they work. However, to have these knowledge we have to think about the negative consequences that could occur like delayed graduation.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, though the development is somewhat limited. The essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the overall task achievement. While the ideas are relevant, the arguments—such as the 'backup plan' or 'academic pressure'—are presented in a somewhat superficial manner without deep exploration or specific, illustrative examples. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.
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 hand,' and 'Moreover' to link your points. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For example, the transition between the benefits of wider knowledge and the potential for 'inadequate knowledge' could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical relationship between sentences is more explicit.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on common terms like 'good,' 'bad,' and 'things,' which limits the sophistication of your writing. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'convert their jobs' (instead of 'change careers') and 'have these knowledge' (which should be 'this knowledge'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to education and professional development, while paying closer attention to pluralization and word forms.
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 distract the reader. Examples include 'learning subjects... might be beneficial' (a subject-verb agreement issue), 'it could to bad academic performance' (missing verb), and 'there are a growing debate' (incorrect verb agreement). Punctuation and spelling errors, such as 'amin' and 'Similiraly,' also occur. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring all sentences have a clear subject and verb.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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