Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-22
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 6.0)
In recent years, it has been seen that many university students study subjects apart from their main fields. Some people argue that many college students want to learn about other subject in addition to their main subjects, while others believe that it is more important to give all their time and attention to their main subjects for a qualification. In my opinion, university students should give equal attention to other subjects and their main subjects for their better future.
On the one hand, studying other subjects contributes to overall development of the students. This allow the students to gain the knowledge about the different fields and may increase the opportunities in the future. For example, if a student is gaining knowledge about the finance, they may get an opportunity to work as a financial analyst in a fintech company. Additionally, knowledge of various subjects other than main subject, allow students to develop innovative technologies. For instance, if a student of an artificial intelligence course gains knowledge about cybersecurity, they may combine this knowledge to create more advanced software against various cyberattacks.
On the other hand, critics argue that dedicating all their time and attention to the main subjects is beneficial for those who want to pursue a job in the main field. If an individual focuses mainly on the main subjects, they will gain deeper knowledge about the field and compete with others to obtain a better job in the future. Furthermore, courses such as biology, engineering, and accounting require deep analytical skills, understanding and more hard work. Dedicating the majority of their time will help an individual to obtain better grades in academics.
In conclusion, studying other subjects may lead to develop innovative technology and wide range of opportunities. However, dedicating all their time to the main subjects help an individual to obtain better grades and deeper knowledge. A balanced approach works best where students should explore the other subjects but dedicate an equal amount of time to the main subjects for their better future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the example of AI students learning cybersecurity. However, the development of the second viewpoint is slightly less detailed than the first. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that the supporting examples are consistently linked back to the main argument to avoid minor over-generalizations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Referencing is clear, and the structure supports the overall argument well.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication of ideas. There is an attempt to use topic-specific terminology like 'fintech company', 'artificial intelligence', and 'analytical skills'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is occasional repetition of phrases like 'main subjects' and 'give all their time and attention'. To improve, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are error-free, there are recurring grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'This allow the students', 'knowledge... allow students') and article usage errors (e.g., 'gaining knowledge about the finance'). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. A greater variety of complex structures with more consistent accuracy would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.