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)
Education is considered a fundamental right of human beings. In some university, students want to study about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. While others think that pupils should give more attention and time to studying for qualification. This essay will discuss both the perspectives before presenting my opinion.
To begin with, the study of other subjects in addition with main subjects could be helpful for student in certain ways. Firstly, it satisfies the curiosity of students to learn something knew and improves their knowledge about different subjects. This not only makes them more wiser but also improves their decision making which could be helpful to them to get job. For instance, a student of science additionally studied about accounts then he will be able to maintain basic accounts and many startup companies are actively looking for a candidates who can handle multiple roles at a single time to save their money. Here, the person's additional study could be helpful.
On the other hand, to focus on different subjects could become the reason for the distraction. In many cases, it has been seen that a student started his career in aerospace but after spending a year, he wants to change his field. Because, he is not enjoying the study of aerospace. Also, it has been often noticed that a students who stayed focused in their study, probably scores better than others who focused on other subjects. Furthermore, it also makes student expert of that particular field. Therefore, the chances to get job with good salary also get increased.
In conclusion, both type of approach has its own benefits. In my opinion, universities should give flexibility to students and the last decision should have to be taken by the student as per his own preference.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding the benefits of studying additional subjects is supported by a relevant example about science and accounting, which is a strength. Conversely, the second body paragraph, which discusses the drawbacks of distraction, is less focused. The example of the aerospace student is slightly confusing and does not clearly link back to the prompt's core issue of 'studying for a qualification' versus 'broadening knowledge'. To reach a higher band, ensure that every point made directly supports the main argument with more logical depth and clarity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, the flow within paragraphs is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly forced. For instance, the connection between the aerospace example and the conclusion of that paragraph is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother to achieve a more natural, sophisticated flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'fundamental right' and 'flexibility', but the range is somewhat limited. There are also a few instances of word-choice errors or awkward phrasing, such as 'makes them more wiser' (which is grammatically incorrect) and 'get job' (missing an article). To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing, while also ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'In some university' (should be plural), 'something knew' (should be 'new'), 'a candidates' (should be singular), and 'both type of approach has' (should be 'both types of approaches have'). These errors are noticeable and occur frequently, though they do not impede overall communication. To move to a higher band, the student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and consistent control over complex sentence structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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