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)
Several students prefer to study various subjects in addition to their main course subjects, while other university pupils want to put all their focus and attention on qualification subjects. I firmly believe that a degree-related curriculum is beneficial to study during the duration of the ongoing course, as it can boost grades. Apart from this, gaining knowledge of other subjects during the course can affect grades.
On one hand, the subjects that are part of your undergraduate or graduate education play a vital role in shaping your grades. A well-structured curriculum is often designed to prepare learners to become experts in their field. For instance, every field is designed according to its required skill set, which consists of different subjects. The individuals who are pursuing highly competitive technical degrees such as engineering or medicine might find it difficult to pursue other subjects.
On the other hand, going towards other subjects during the course can significantly affect cumulative grades, which are important for future endeavours. However, it will be difficult to manage time to study something different along with a university course. Certainly, focusing exclusively on different subjects may place unnecessary pressure on learners. For example, students who involve themselves in a plethora of subjects are hindered in their main field course.
In conclusion, I believe that securing a higher rank in university can only be achieved by putting all your focus on a related course area. Consequently, pupils will not thrive by being involved in multiple fields in the long run; tertiary education can not give any advantage in some areas of education.
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 opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that studying extra subjects can affect grades, the explanation remains repetitive and lacks specific, well-developed examples. For instance, you mention medicine and engineering but do not fully explore how a broader curriculum might actually benefit a student's future career or personal development. The conclusion is clear, but the argument could be strengthened by providing more depth regarding the potential advantages of a multidisciplinary approach, rather than focusing solely on the negative impact on grades.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the second and third sentences in the introduction is abrupt. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally clear, though the logical links between the points could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at using topic-specific language like 'curriculum', 'endeavours', and 'tertiary education'. However, there is a lack of variety and some word choices are slightly imprecise or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'subjects' and 'grades'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary. For instance, instead of 'boost grades', you could use 'enhance academic performance'. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some accurate complex sentences, such as 'The individuals who are pursuing highly competitive technical degrees... might find it difficult to pursue other subjects.' However, there are occasional errors in phrasing and word order, such as 'going towards other subjects' (which is unnatural) and 'tertiary education can not give any advantage in some areas of education' (which is slightly vague). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over complex structures to achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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