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)

Students like to explore multiple fields while graduating from universities. Curiosity to learn can be good for students but at the same time it can be difficult to maintain the existing curriculum grade adequate for graduation.

Firstly, acquiring knowledge about other subjects can be good exposure for future studies or career. Elective courses often provide information other then our main domain which can lead to new interest student's life which they couldn't have thought of. Projects executed related to that subject might provide excellent opportunities to the students. For example, many universities are providing elective courses which are not part of their main curriculum. These courses made mandatory for students to explore and understand other streams for their better career path. Therefore, it is in student's interest to do additional learning outside their main subjects.

On the other hand, the pressure of competition given to students for completing their qualification. In today's world, the strength of student has increased to a tremendous number. This had directly rose the competition among students. So, many student do understand the importance of finishing their grades with good marks which can give a compelling argument about why student don't want to learn other subject except their own. For Example, many universities grading system is that much strict that a student spend all their time to score good marks.

In conclusion, i would say that all students should explore more opportunities in terms of subjects learned outside their expertise which can be good for their career and can lead have a better and successful career.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the pressure of competition is mentioned but not fully explored with specific, concrete examples beyond a general statement about grading systems. The essay covers all parts of the prompt, but the depth of analysis is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed explanations and specific examples to support your points, ensuring that the link between the arguments and the prompt is always explicit and well-reasoned.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between elective courses and career paths could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher score. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant academic terms like 'curriculum', 'domain', and 'expertise'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'This had directly rose the competition' (should be 'risen') and 'lead have a better' (grammatically incorrect). The range of vocabulary is sufficient but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more varied and precise collocations and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'other then' (should be 'than'), 'many student do understand' (should be 'students'), and 'many universities grading system is that much strict' (should be 'the grading system of many universities is so strict'). These errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, are noticeable. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and practice using more complex sentence structures with greater precision.

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

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