Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-20

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)

Whilst many believe that tertiary students should dedicate all their time and focus on studying for a qualification, i firmly think that they should be able to study auxiliary subjects alongside their their core disciplines for better knowledge and career success.

On the one hand, the fundamental necessity of prioritizing core subjects at the university level is enormous. It creates foundation of their basic understanding which are mandatory regardless of their occupations. Moreover, the academic pressure is too high as students compete to get good grades in all semesters. If they are distracted with other unrelated subjects, it might affect their academic results putting their future at a great risk. For example, some students struggle to balance between elective and mandatory courses. Hence, many scholars prefer focusing on their core subjects to attain a good grade and subsequently a degree.

On the other hand, business and job sectors want fresh graduates who have vast knowledge beyond text books which come from additional learning aspects. Engaging in learning extra subjects enhances one's perspective and though process making them differentiate themselves in the labor market, providing a competitive edge. Furthermore, teaching them about digital marketing, money management, public speaking or simply a new language significantly improve their cognitive growth and future career opportunities. For instance, i learnt basic Chinese in three consecutive semesters as a non-credit course arranged by my department, which helped me land my first internship in a Chinese company. Thus, it opens up new doors for students' future while still learning fundamental courses.

In conclusion, although a dedicated time and attention to study for a degree is a fundamental requirement, i wholeheartedly believe that university students should include additional subjects and courses to better prepare them for future job market opportunities accordingly which typical textbooks cannot teach alone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of learning Chinese to secure an internship. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the first viewpoint could be slightly more nuanced; while the pressure of core subjects is mentioned, the argument could benefit from a deeper exploration of why some believe specialization is the only path to academic excellence. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a logical flow of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. There is a minor repetition of 'their' in the first paragraph ('their their core disciplines'), but this does not significantly disrupt the flow. The structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The range of vocabulary is sufficient for the task, with some good collocations such as 'tertiary students', 'core disciplines', 'academic pressure', and 'competitive edge'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'though process' (should be 'thought process') and 'fresh graduates' (which is acceptable but 'recent graduates' is more standard). The vocabulary is generally precise enough to convey the intended meaning without difficulty. To improve, the student could incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range and more natural control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over grammar, though there are some recurring errors. For instance, the pronoun 'i' is consistently written in lowercase, which is a punctuation error. There are also minor grammatical slips, such as 'It creates foundation' (missing an article: 'a foundation') and 'significantly improve' (should be 'significantly improves' to agree with the subject). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the majority of sentences are clear and well-constructed. The range of structures is adequate for the task.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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