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)
Some universities and colleges thinks that students should only focus on their main subjects and should add or focus on any additional subject while on the other hand some of them think that additional subjects should be added in a students qualification for increase of knowledge and to decrease boredom from study. Both views are right on their side.
A student should get additional subjects in his/her qualification so that he/she can focus more on their studies because the subject he/she likes make them vanish stress, boredom and academic pressure from their student life. For example, a medical students who studies all day long chooses an additional subject like any language he like, physical education to participate in sports or computer technology to stay in touch with the developing technology. It seems to be really beneficial for a student to focus and learn atmost.
On the other hand an additional subject can also affect a students's academic performance for an average student or a subject which requires a lots of time like Maths. An example if we take of an average student of PCM if he chooses biology as an additional subject which requires same time as maths his academic performance will surely get affected because of being an average student. This additional subject can also affect the student's mental and physical health.
In a nutshell we can say that if a student want to add an additional subject to his/her qualification it should be of their interest and less time consuming. The subject should make their mind fresh and relaxed so the student can learn atmost. Colleges and universities should allow students to choose additional subject in their qualification in accordance to student's interest and academic performance.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 provide examples, such as the medical student or the PCM student, the explanation of why these subjects might be beneficial or detrimental remains a bit superficial. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully extended with more depth and logical reasoning. The conclusion effectively summarizes your position, but the overall development of the prompt's requirements is consistent with a Band 6.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'In a nutshell' to transition between ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'some of them' in the introduction). To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid and less repetitive.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on simple terms like 'good', 'right', and 'time consuming'. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'vanish stress' (instead of 'alleviate' or 'relieve') and 'learn atmost' (which is unclear). While your meaning is generally clear, you need to incorporate a broader range of academic vocabulary and demonstrate more precise control over word choice to move into the higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('universities and colleges thinks'), incorrect pluralization ('a students's academic performance'), and awkward phrasing ('if we take of an average student'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall fluency of the essay. Increasing your control over basic grammar and punctuation will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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