Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-13

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)

Some university students are eager to learn various subjects in addition to their main subjects. While others argue that you have to offer your time and dedication to studying for qualifications. From my perspective, although exploration of different subjects fosters broader perspectives, there will be much less time for core subjects, which ultimately hinders qualifications.

On the one hand. People believe that university is a place to explore various subjects. There are a lot of such universities in Nepal, where you can pursue arts, music, and sports along with medical education. Some people are not sure about their career, and there are various examples of people who change their career in a later phase yet are successful. So learning skills and studying other subjects simultaneously will definitely make you versatile. And people love to lean various subjects because of their inherent nature

On the other hand, people insist it is paramount to give all their time, energy, and attention to the major subjects. There are a lot of sectors that need your full concentration, energy, and commitment; for example, medicine and engineering. Medical students often have long study sessions and cannot give time to other activities. These are those sectors that do not tolerate minor mistakes, and you have to master your skills. Because of such reasons, our education systems are designed in such a way that specializations are more favored than generalization.

In conclusion, learning various things simultaneously offers versatility, while specialization in the major subject makes people experts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position in the introduction and conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that medical and engineering fields require full concentration, the explanation could be further extended with more specific examples or deeper analysis of why these fields are so demanding. The conclusion is quite brief and does not fully synthesize the points made in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with detailed reasoning rather than just stating the idea.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes a bit mechanical or abrupt, such as the transition between the discussion of career changes and the inherent nature of learning. Improving the use of linking words and referencing (e.g., using pronouns or synonyms to refer back to previous ideas) would help the essay read more naturally and improve the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'versatile', 'inherent nature', 'paramount', and 'specialization'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'offer your time' (better: 'devote your time') and 'lean various subjects' (likely a typo for 'learn'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing to enhance the lexical quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as sentence fragments ('On the one hand. People believe...') and issues with subject-verb agreement or article usage ('These are those sectors that do not tolerate...'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic punctuation errors and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will also help demonstrate better control.

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

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