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, many university students study the other subjects apart from their main field. Some people argue that many college students want to learn about the other subjects in addition to their main subjects, while others believe that it is more important to give all their time and attention to the main subjects for a qualification. In my opinion, students should give an equal attention to their main subjects along with the subjects outside their main field.
On the one hand, studying other subjects apart from their main field contributes to the overall development of the students. This allows students to gain knowledge about the other fields and may increase the opportunities in the future. For example, if a student with computer science background learn about the finance, they may get an opportunity to work as a financial analyst in a fintech company. Additionally, the knowledge of subjects outside the main field allows students to develop innovative technologies. For instance, if a student of an artificial intelligence course gains knowledge about the cybersecurity, they may combine the knowledge to develop more advanced software against various cyberattacks.
On the other hand, critics argue that dedicating all their time and attention to the main subjects help an individual to obtain deeper understanding and knowledge about the main field, especially beneficial for those who wants to pursue a job in the main field. This may help an individual to develop core knowledge and competes with others to obtain a better job in the future. Furthermore, courses such as accounting, engineering, and biology requires a deep analytical skills, understanding, and knowledge. If an individual dedicate all their time to the main subjects, they may develop the core knowledge and obtain better grades in academics.
In conclusion, the knowledge of the other subjects may help in developing the innovative technologies and a wide range of opportunities. However, dedicating all their time to the main subjects help students to gain deeper knowledge and obtain better grades in academics. A balanced approach works best where students should give an equal amount of time and attention to the main subjects and other subjects of their interest for their future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| 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. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the computer science and finance scenario. However, the development of the second viewpoint is slightly repetitive, and the conclusion could have been more nuanced to reflect the complexity of the debate. The position is consistent throughout, and the essay structure is logical, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional minor awkwardness in the phrasing of cohesive links, which keeps the score at a solid 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is sufficient to convey ideas clearly and with some precision. You use topic-specific terms like 'fintech', 'cybersecurity', and 'analytical skills' effectively. However, there is a tendency to repeat phrases like 'main subjects' and 'other subjects' frequently, which limits the range of vocabulary. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more varied synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider lexical range. The word choice is generally accurate, with no significant errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, particularly with article usage (e.g., 'the other subjects', 'the finance', 'the cybersecurity') and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'courses... requires', 'an individual dedicate'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your points. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for minor grammatical slips would help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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