Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-17

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)

It is often believed that students are eager to learn extra subjects along with their compulsory subjects. However, others opine that they should focus more on acquiring a degree. This essay will examine both perspectives before giving my opinion.

To begin with, there are many reasons for opting for additional subjects. This is because, scholars will gain knowledge in every aspect of studies whether it is history, philosophy, and science. For instance, people can get the opportunities to display their talents in every field like arts and crafts, by painting beautiful landscapes, later on become a great painter, and earn money from their artwork. As a result, students are free to choose their subjects of interest, so that they can have options after graduation.

On the other hand, students have already under pressure from their studies and have to cover all the subjects in a limited time span , so it is hard for them to go for additional subjects. The aim of most students is to get the degree by passing the main subjects, so they only focus to get a qualification and get their desired jobs. For example, medical students only learn subjects that help them get the degree instead of leaning arts and history. Therefore, the only purpose of students should be to pass their mains and get good job opportunities.

In my opinion, it is better to pay attention to the necessary academic subjects instead of wasting time on other subjects that are not required in future.

In my opinion, university students are free to choose their subjects in which they are interested in; however, I contend that students should only choose subjects that are beneficial for them to get a degree.

AI examiner evaluation

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. For instance, the argument for learning extra subjects is supported by a rather simplistic example about painting. The second body paragraph is more focused, but the conclusion is slightly contradictory, as it first states that students should focus on necessary subjects, then adds a caveat about personal interest. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that your supporting examples are more detailed and that your position remains consistent and clearly articulated throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' to link your thoughts. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. The final paragraph is disjointed because it presents two conflicting statements about your opinion. Improving the use of more sophisticated linking phrases and ensuring that your concluding summary synthesizes your position more effectively would improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant academic terms like 'compulsory subjects', 'qualification', and 'graduation'. However, there is a lack of variety, and some word choices are slightly imprecise or repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'subjects' and 'get'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider range of synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'students have already under pressure' (missing verb 'been') and 'instead of leaning arts' (should be 'learning'). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as the space before the comma in 'time span ,'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor slips would be beneficial.

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

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