Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

At the present, university does not the name of just getting qualificaton, its all about becoming a well rounded person, and that happens when we explore different fields. Many pupils believe that, studying a main degree subjects are more beneficial than studying other subjects. I will look at the both side of argument and give my opinion.

Firstly, other subjects learning give more flixibility and creativity. To illustrate this point, numerous individuals who belongs to science background are taking marketing or business in a minor subjects, so this can give them more advantage when they applying for job. However, learning abiut other subject helps students to new interest and more well rounded personality.

On the other hand, many pupils thinks thta other subjects study have been distracted the mind from the major subject. For example, a chemistry student takes statistics as a minor so it become double minded and will not undestand a single subject perfectly.In other word, distracted subjects will remove from the qualification.

In my opinion, specialization in one subject have more prob but now a days pupil should be study other subjects to adjust their personality in any environment or they have more jobs options and can start their business if they have different fields knowledge.

To conclude, study only main subject can lead to ore valuable but other subjects study are more valuable because it prepares student not only for career but also for life by giving them a wide range of knowledge and skills.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which impacts the development of ideas. While the main points are relevant, the arguments are somewhat underdeveloped and lack depth. For instance, the example regarding chemistry and statistics is a bit simplistic and does not fully explore the complexities of the debate. To improve, you should expand on your reasoning with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the minimum word count to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude'. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'In other word, distracted subjects will remove from the qualification', where the meaning is difficult to follow. Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words will help create a smoother progression of ideas throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'distracted the mind' instead of 'distract the student' and 'double minded' which is not the most appropriate collocation in this academic context. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'thta' and 'ore'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more academic collocations and ensure your spelling is accurate throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'university does not the name of just getting qualificaton', 'pupil should be study', and 'specialization in one subject have more prob'. These errors in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, and sentence construction are noticeable. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of these errors limits the score. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common grammatical slips.

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

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