Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-18
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 believed that some students want to learn additional subjects at university apart from their main subjects, while other argue that it is more significant for them to pay their attention to the major and basic subjects for a qualification. In my opinion, i support the second fact that they should be focused on their main subjects.
On the first hand, some students want to learn extra subjects to improve their knowledge and gain additional information. They may have interest in several fields and they may want to keep themselves updated for other fields. For example, mathematics' students want to learn science with their major field because they might have interest in the creation of world. Moreover, they may want to explore different aspects of life and to understand functioning of the human body. Consequently, it will be helpful in some situations e.g. improving lifestyle to remain healthy, proper balance of their diets etc.
On the other hand, learning of minor subjects with the study of main subjects is not a problem itself, until it diverts you from your specific goal. Basically, many students in the interest of gaining extra knowledge sometimes forget their specific purpose, while some of them may get bore from their major subjects. In addition, they start spending most of their time in minor subjects causing lose of their focus which may results in failure. For example, if student develop his interest in other subjects, he will may not pay any further heed to main subjects and don't get enough skills, it will cause him to miss the better job opportunities that required skills related to the field. So, these facts are the main causes to lose interest from major fields.
In conclusion, students who want to gain extra knowledge should make proper balance between major and minor subjects to avoid failure.
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 response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides relevant examples, the second paragraph is slightly repetitive and lacks depth in explaining why students might lose focus. The conclusion is quite brief and does not fully summarise the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. To improve, ensure that each viewpoint is explored with more analytical depth rather than just listing potential outcomes. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments could be more robustly linked to the prompt's focus on the trade-off between breadth of knowledge and qualification-focused study.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the first hand', 'Moreover', and 'In addition', though some are used slightly incorrectly (e.g., 'On the first hand' should be 'On the one hand'). The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences can occasionally feel mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that the transition between the introduction, body, and conclusion is smoother.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'diverts', 'heed', and 'opportunities', but there are also instances of awkward word choice or minor errors, such as 'get bore' instead of 'get bored' and 'lose of their focus' instead of 'loss of their focus'. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Focusing on accurate collocations and word forms will help improve this score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'other argue' (others argue), 'mathematics' students' (mathematics students), and 'he will may not' (he may not). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is rarely obscured, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Increasing the number of error-free sentences through careful proofreading and practice with complex structures is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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