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 university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. While some believed it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for their degree subjects. This essay will discuss both views and explain why I agreed that students should give their whole time and pay all attention to studying for a qualification.
On the first hand, some students want to gain extra knowledge by studying other subjects which is addition to their main subjects. They believe by gaining extra knowledge students can make themselves more intelligent and intellectual personal among others. For example, if a group of students want to learn history, after course completion they are able to understand all past experiences and know the value of their traditions.
On the other hand, some argued that paying all attention and time to their degree subjects is more beneficial for them. If students started studying extra subjects they might have time management issues. For example, if a students achieved their highest points in extra subject but these points will no
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay attempts to address both views and states a position, the arguments are underdeveloped and the conclusion is missing due to the incomplete nature of the text. The final sentence is cut off mid-thought, preventing a full exploration of the topic. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are fully supported with extended examples and a clear, logical conclusion, while meeting the length requirement to allow for sufficient depth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'On the first hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal structure. However, the progression of ideas is hindered by the abrupt ending of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of a concluding paragraph makes the overall organization feel incomplete. Referencing is generally clear, but the mechanical use of transition words suggests a need for more varied and sophisticated linking techniques to improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'make themselves more intelligent' and 'past experiences' are somewhat simplistic. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'intellectual personal' instead of 'intellectual person'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to education and personal development, while ensuring accurate word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For instance, 'While some believed' is a sentence fragment, and 'if a students achieved' contains a subject-verb agreement error. Tense consistency is also an issue, as the essay shifts between present and past unnecessarily. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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