Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-26
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)
Some students say that we should develop skills in addition to our academics. Some other students say that all our focus and time should be spent on academics. The argument from both the sides will be discussed in detail below in the essay.
Some students say that it is important to develop additional skills other than academics. Now a days we see that job market has become very competitive. The employers of the hirers don't value our education or qualification. Today's market want skilled workers who are trained to work or in simple words having experienced workers to work in organizations. Now a days many colleges, institutions and universities are encouraging students students to develop additional skills other than academics according to the recent market trends. Students also loose interest in going with the old syllabus which is taught in the institutions.
On the other hand some students say that we should only focus on our academics to get success. It is true that academics are also important. An individual who holds a degree make him recognize as educated or qualified. The academics just make us qualified, not skilled. The market want skilled people who car work with less or low training. Earlier qualification was valued more than aye thing else. But now as the market trends changed it seeks for skilled people more than qualified people.
In my opinion I would say that the students who say that additional skills are more important are correct. Now a days education and qualification are not valued much. The employers ask for working skills. That is wht now a days highly qualified people are als seen to be un employed at a large scale
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 essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that the job market is competitive, the arguments remain quite general and repetitive. For instance, the point about employers valuing skills over qualifications is repeated in every paragraph without adding new depth or specific examples. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with concrete examples, such as how specific industries (e.g., technology or healthcare) prioritize practical experience over theoretical knowledge. The conclusion is also quite abrupt and lacks a summary of the main points discussed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'Some students say' and 'Now a days' are used frequently, which makes the flow feel a bit stilted. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas between and within sentences. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better contrast the two viewpoints. Improving the variety of transition signals would significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'academics', 'skills', and 'market', and there are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'employers of the hirers' and 'aye thing else' (likely a typo for 'anything else'). Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'loose' instead of 'lose' and 'wht' instead of 'what'. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the English language.
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 (e.g., 'The market want skilled people'), missing articles, and punctuation errors. For example, 'An individual who holds a degree make him recognize' is grammatically incorrect. While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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