Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The attainment of higher studies with practical experience for learners should be equally important. In this digital and fast pace world, Gen Z learners are willing to explore many spheres of their lives, and hence they refused to limit their knowledge to only subjects being taught in universities. Consequently, with their academic studies they want to pursue subjects in their areas of interest, which also provides them with wider career opportunities.

Some people believe that studying another subject alongside with their university studies is definately a beneficial deal for the learners. Firstly, it gives them multiple career opportunities and it also means they are not supposed to rely on one particular thing. For example, a medical student of a university who is not able to acquire a job in the medical field can apply for jobs related to other fields. Secondly, it will reduce the burden on learners, because when they have two options for their career they are more stressed free, feel more confident and become more career oriented people.

However, other hold the belief that studying an additional subject at the university level is a sheer waste of time. According to them, it is not advisable for the students to focus on the subjects which are are not included in their curriculum because, it will divert their attention from the studies which will also affect their academic growth at the university level. For instance , to clear competitive exams it is significant to obtain deep knowledge of one particular subject, therefore adding an extra subject at the university level is not logical and not advantageous for the learners.

In my view, learning other subjects at the university level will absolutely produce positive outcomes for the students. It not only brings more opportunities to them, but also gives them chance to exhibit their talent or showcase their hidden interests in their respected areas of interest. Most importantly, in the world of technology it is paramount to gain knowledge in different streams which will make the future survival also easier for the learners.

AI examiner evaluation

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, such as the mention of career flexibility and the potential for academic distraction. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding the 'medical student' is a good example, but the explanation of why it reduces stress is slightly underdeveloped. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to provide more nuanced examples and ensure that the link between the arguments and the prompt is more explicitly stated in every paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into four paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In my view', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and flow. For instance, the phrase 'other hold the belief' should be 'others hold the belief'. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by varying the linking words and ensuring that the logical progression between sentences is smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'attainment', 'exhibit', and 'paramount'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice or collocation errors, such as 'stress free' instead of 'stress-free', 'respected areas' instead of 'respective areas', and 'future survival' which sounds unnatural in this context. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over word choice and a better understanding of collocations to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'they refused to limit' (should be 'refuse'), 'alongside with' (should be 'alongside'), 'definately' (spelling), and 'subjects which are are not' (repetition). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement before 'because' and after 'For instance'. 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 proofreading for minor slips 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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