Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-25
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)
Several university scholars have interest in learning other subjects instead of main subjects. However, some argued that focus on their education related subjects which is beneficial for their career enhancement.
To commence with, in education sectors many learners interest is in other subjects which are entertaining them or they feel enjoy when they study. However, it couldn't be possible yet, because of the higher authorities belong to education. Likely, their aim is that scholars should learn more knowledge regarding their field which is only possible when they should learn with full focus. Nevertheless, their interest is in subjects instead of relevant degree it should be harmful for them and they will bring their career in difficulty.
On the other hand, some people argued that relevant degree study is beneficial for their bright career, because when they enters in any multinational industry or company it should be helpful to obtain promotion which is only achievable when they have got theory knowledge. In my opinion, I strongly agree with this notion, because it is mandatory for every learner in university should have got theory knowledge after that they should learn more practical knowledge in the industry after obtaining their degree. For instance, when I was in university learned several technical theories or relevant subjects. As a result, which are very helpful for me to getting a job as a Civil Engineer.
In conclusion, scholars must learn their main subjects with full effort which are beneficial for them in the future. Still, if they shouldn't put concentrate on that it will creates challenges in the future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that studying other subjects might be 'entertaining,' the explanation of why students might want to do this is underdeveloped. Similarly, the argument for focusing on main subjects is repetitive, relying heavily on the idea of 'career enhancement' without exploring the broader benefits of a well-rounded education. To improve, ensure that each paragraph provides a distinct, well-supported reason rather than restating the same point. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To commence with,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, some of these are used mechanically or slightly incorrectly, such as 'Likely, their aim is...' which does not function well as a cohesive link. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear; for example, in the second paragraph, it is ambiguous who 'their' refers to in several instances. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words will help the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'bring their career in difficulty' (which is non-idiomatic) and 'full focus.' There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'scholars' (which usually refers to academic researchers rather than university students) and 'theory knowledge' (which should be 'theoretical knowledge'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to higher education and professional development.
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. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('some argued that focus,' 'it will creates'), article usage, and awkward phrasing ('when they enters in any multinational industry'). While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic tense consistency and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately without missing prepositions or auxiliary verbs.
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.