Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-19

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 6.5)

A debate exists on whether universities should teach other disciplines in addition to the main subject or focus on learning for a specific qualification. I will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

Learning other disciplines alongside the main subject comes with some benefits. To begin with, diversification in different careers exists boosting the economic prospects of a country. Incase of job redundancy due to degree devaluation, one is able to transition to other jobs. Job cuts therefore will not be a challenge to an employee who has learnt a different. By diversifying in different disciplines, graduates can shift careers, thereby improving a countr'ys economic growth. Such employees are still in a position to contribute taxes to their country. Moreover, learning soft skills to learners who pursue corporate management,can improve problem solving skills at the workplace. As such, whenever conflicts arise, they can be amicably resolved restoring employee relationships and the organisation saves alot of money from hiring a mediator for mediation services.

However, concentating on a specific qualification equally has its advantages. Such an option allows full time focus on one particular subject area, enhancing the performance of an individual. A student is likely to graduate with high scores at the end of the study period, thereby becoming competitive globally. Additionally with the ongoing low rates of employment, high scores tend to guarantee better job placements or higher remuneration. This in turn can result in an improvement in the living standards of such an employee and job satisfaction creating mental peace. Unlike learning many subjects, there will be no brain fog as a result of multi-tasking boosting the overall productivity.

In conclusion, while both views have their own merits, I believe that when one does other disciplines apart from their qualification, they can diversify and shift to other roles seamlessly incase of job losses and also apply other skills learnt in the same corporation , thereby saving extra costs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the economic benefits of diversification and the academic advantages of specialization. However, some arguments are slightly under-developed; for instance, the link between 'soft skills' and 'corporate management' is mentioned but could be more explicitly connected to the university curriculum. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting example is fully explained to demonstrate its direct impact on the student's argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt, such as the shift from job redundancy to tax contributions. Referencing is generally clear, though some phrasing, like 'learnt a different', is incomplete and hinders the smooth progression of ideas. Overall, the structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'diversification', 'redundancy', and 'remuneration'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'concentating' (spelling), 'alot' (should be 'a lot'), and 'countr'ys' (punctuation). Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'learning soft skills to learners'. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning, the lack of precision and occasional spelling errors prevent a higher score. Expanding the use of topic-specific vocabulary and improving accuracy in word formation would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is an attempt at complex grammar, such as conditional clauses ('whenever conflicts arise') and participial phrases ('thereby improving...'). However, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar, including missing articles ('a different'), incorrect preposition usage ('learning soft skills to learners'), and comma splices. While these errors do not impede communication, they are noticeable and occur throughout the text. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and punctuation to ensure a more polished and accurate presentation.

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