Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

While some university students argue that acquiring knowledge about other subjects along with their main line of study is important, others consider it a waste of time. Although focusing only on the primary subjects is crucial to get high grades, I firmly believe that exploring other topics is indispensable for real-world situations.

The chief reason why some students are compelled to study just enough subjects to graduate is deeply rooted in the fear of getting low grades. It is a common misconception that humans have limited brain capacity, and any excessive cognitive load could be detrimental to the whole learning process. For instance, students who invest all their time and effort in three subjects are highly likely to get higher grades than those who study a plethora of topics. Consequently, this could lead to weak academic grounding and an inability to work in professional capacity in the future.

Those who recognize the significance of studying subjects that are not included in their course, myself included, tend to think beyond the immediate effects on grades. Real-world challenges are fairly complex and tackling them requires a set of interdisciplinary skills which are impossible to cover all in one university course. For example, an architect who is competing to win the contract to design a state-of-the art museum. In this scenario, communication is a vital skill to make her stand out as she will have to convince the stakeholders. Although the art of convincing other is not a part of architects' qualifications, it plays a crucial role in real life.

In conclusion, although it is sensible that some students find themselves drawn to only concentrate on discipline specific subjects, this could have ramifications for career prospects. Being equipped with diverse knowledge, however, will definitely make a student unique.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. Your position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the example of the architect, which effectively illustrates the necessity of interdisciplinary skills. To reach a higher band, ensure that the discussion of the opposing view is as robust as your own; while you mention the fear of low grades, you could further explore the benefits of specialization, such as deep expertise or professional focus, to create a more balanced and nuanced argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'consequently,' 'for instance,' and 'in conclusion,' to guide the reader through your argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, and each paragraph has a clear central theme. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the second paragraph, the link between 'plethora of topics' and 'weak academic grounding' could be more explicitly connected to the initial premise of the argument to avoid any slight ambiguity in the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including terms like 'indispensable,' 'misconception,' 'interdisciplinary,' and 'ramifications.' The language is generally natural and appropriate for an academic context. There are a few minor collocation issues, such as 'work in professional capacity,' which would be more naturally phrased as 'work in a professional capacity.' You also use 'convincing other' instead of 'convincing others.' Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision and style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional-like structures and subordinate clauses, which show good control. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally accurate. There are occasional minor errors, such as the fragment 'An architect who is competing to win the contract to design a state-of-the art museum,' which lacks a main verb to complete the thought. However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your control over grammar is strong, and you demonstrate the ability to use complex forms effectively.

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

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