Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-21
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)
These days majority of the universities provide additional subjects to students. Some people pupils consider it as positive way because it helps to learn new skills which help them to achieve a higher position in their live, while others beleive that they should focus on their academic performance. This essay will be discussed in the upcoming paragraph.
On the one hand, teritory institution should not provide additional subjects to students because they do not pay attention to their studies. For instance, these days many educational institutes organise extra lectures such as games, singing club and health and fitness centre. So most of the time students attend those classes which affect their studies and gardes. Consequently, they unable to achieve a good job in the future.
On the other hand, there are various reasons that universities should adopt skill based subjects in their syllabus. The most prominent reason is that it helps to enhance their abilities and skills. Such as communication skills, leadership qualities because when they learn new skills there are able to work in a team and they achieve a higher position in future. Eventually they can run heir own business or they can work in High overseas.
In conclusion, although there are many advantages of learning main subjects in university, I beleive that additional subjects are more essential for students because they can learn new skills at early age which help them to
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, though the conclusion is incomplete, which leaves the final position slightly underdeveloped. The essay fails to meet the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the prompt is addressed, the arguments regarding 'extra lectures' like singing clubs are somewhat simplistic and lack the depth required for a higher band. To improve, ensure you fully develop your points with more sophisticated reasoning and ensure the essay reaches the required length to allow for a complete, well-rounded conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression using transition signals like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, such as the abrupt ending of the final sentence. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between ideas could be smoother. The paragraphing is present, but the lack of a completed conclusion disrupts the overall structure. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, fully developed topic sentence and a logical closing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are several spelling errors (e.g., 'beleive', 'teritory', 'gardes', 'heir') and some awkward word choices, such as 'High overseas'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more academic collocations and less common vocabulary related to education and professional development. Proofreading is essential to eliminate the frequent spelling mistakes that detract from the professional tone of the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'they unable to achieve', 'there are able to work', and 'at early age'. Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically the use of auxiliary verbs and articles, and practice proofreading to identify and correct common slips in tense and number agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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