Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
In the modern world, some youngsters believe that having extra knowledge of other topics is beneficial in their future but others believe that their time is crucial for their curricular studies for their qualification and this topic has become common and has attracted significant public attention. It has become a topic of widespread debate due to its impact on individuals and society. This essay will discuss both sides and state my opinion.
To commence, one of the major advantages is that having an extra knowledge about another subject can diversify their thinking rather than sticking solely to the school curriculum. In other words, In some schools there is an addition of foreign language to teach students to help in their college life to grab any job. This is because there is an advantage of having extra knowledge of another language will provide individuals multiple benefits in job and highlighted in their resume. Hence, it will be beneficial for individuals and society in the long term.
On the other hand, one of the major disadvantages is that students will distract from their studies and sometime they face multiple difficulties in their exam. This is because grab new skills, need time and efforts. Sometime, students brains did not accomplish both study at a same time and last it messed up in both skills. Moreover, the school prepare student syllabus by their capability in which children can grab knowledge in that particular period of time, otherwise it will lack to complete their syllabus. As result, it may create several problems in the long run.
In my opinion, grab new skills to learn new subject might be beneficial for children growth but sometime it will harm their studies, yet it will impact in thier grades.
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 views and provides an opinion, though the development is somewhat limited. The arguments regarding the benefits of extra subjects (e.g., foreign languages) and the drawbacks (e.g., distraction and syllabus completion) are relevant but lack depth. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples and ensure your opinion is clearly integrated throughout the essay rather than just mentioned in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are generally relevant, but the supporting points could be more thoroughly explored to demonstrate a more sophisticated understanding of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To commence,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Moreover,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'last it messed up in both skills.' The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'grab new skills' and 'extra knowledge.' There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'students brains did not accomplish both study' and 'it messed up in both skills.' To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. Focus on using words that accurately convey your intended meaning in a formal context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'students brains' (missing possessive apostrophe), 'sometime they face' (should be 'sometimes'), and 'the school prepare student syllabus' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and sentence construction, such as 'it will lack to complete their syllabus.' While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and punctuation errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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