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)

Now a days a large number of university students want to study some extra subjects along their main subjects. while some people argue that this will distract them from their main purpose and can cause wastage of time.

Those who support the support the first view believe that learning about other subjects will encourage them to find the passion and interest. This is becuase this activity enables them to critically examine and to contribute in research. In Addition this habbit will also help them in future when they have to sit for long hours for decision making and to perform cirtical analysis of the systems. For example, Many companies prefer such candidate which has solid analytical skills such as reading documenation for systems and participates in decision making.

On the other hand those who support the second view argue that individuals should be more lean towards their main study courses because they spent a large amount and time on it. Another important reason is that i can distract them from their goals which can effect their professional life and cause for disturbance in future. For instance,

Univerities around the world encourages students to be more focused on their degree courses.As a result they will have strong foundation, which directly help them to grow in their career and to perform well in exam.

Having considered both views, i believe that students should prioritise their main studies instead of involving themselves in unrelevant subjects that can impact their growth and mental well being.

In conclusion, both views raised valid points however in my opinion should spend their time to study relevant materials which can help them in getting good grades as well as qualify with distinction.

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 regarding 'analytical skills' is a good point, but it lacks specific examples or deeper explanation of how studying extra subjects specifically fosters these skills. The conclusion is slightly repetitive, as the final paragraph restates the opinion already given in the penultimate paragraph. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more detailed reasoning or concrete examples to demonstrate a deeper engagement with the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by grammatical errors or awkward phrasing, such as the opening sentence structure. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There are attempts to use academic vocabulary, such as 'critically examine', 'analytical skills', and 'distinction'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'unrelevant' (irrelevant), 'habbit' (habit), and 'cause for disturbance'. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'lean towards their main study courses'. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure spelling is accurate, as these minor errors occasionally draw attention.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'Now a days' (Nowadays), 'Many companies prefer such candidate which has' (candidates who have), and 'i can distract them' (it can distract). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the writer attempts complex structures, these are often where the errors occur. Increasing the accuracy of basic grammatical rules and proofreading for minor slips would significantly improve the score.

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