Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-24

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)

Nowadays, the study standards have evolved and the professionalism increased dramatically that every person should be expert in one subject to survive in many aspects of life. In my stand point, I totally agree that students should give all attention to their main subject as it is more beneficial.

Firstly, A person without enough information could face a lot of hurdles in daily life problems. The students which focus on one single significant subject knows more about their profession than the students involved in other activities and subjects. In addition, the students without any proper ambition and goals move towards other subjects but the serious pupils limits themselves to only a single subject which will help them to improve their future and paramount for them. For instance, my friend Ali is focusing on his medical field instead of revolving through other useless subjects.

Turning to the other side of the point, the other subjects can be useful if they are relevant to the student's field. To be more precise, the students must learn about them to dig out the details of their profession. Moreover, focusing on the useless subjects can restricts and destroy their career. For instance, My friend Usman is learning about human body so he have to study about the bones, organs, arteries for the proper knowledge about human anatomy.

To sum up all this, I conclude that the students which are learning a single subject without wasting time on other additional subjects will be more qualified and become the experts of their fileds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat inconsistent. While the first body paragraph attempts to support the focus on a single subject, the second paragraph is confusing; it claims to discuss the 'other side' but then argues that students should only learn subjects relevant to their field, which essentially supports the first viewpoint rather than providing a balanced counter-argument. The examples provided, such as 'my friend Ali', are personal and somewhat simplistic, lacking the depth required for a higher band score. To improve, ensure that the counter-argument is clearly articulated and distinct from your own position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'To sum up', though some are used mechanically. The referencing is occasionally unclear; for instance, the transition in the second body paragraph is abrupt, and the connection between the topic sentence and the supporting example is weak. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally rather than relying on simple additive transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'revolving through other useless subjects' and 'dig out the details'. While the student attempts to use some academic vocabulary like 'paramount' and 'evolved', these are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that sounds unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid informal or vague phrasing like 'useless subjects' or 'a lot of hurdles'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues such as 'the students which focus... knows' and 'he have to study'. There are also errors with relative pronouns ('students which are learning' instead of 'who') and article usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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

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