Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-27
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)
There's a common debate where a specific number of university students want to learn subjects other than their main subjects while others think that they should only focus to their main subjects. In my opinion, a student should put most of his focus in his main subjects in order to avoid distractions and become a master in one.
On the one hand, there are students who believe that they should focus on other subjects with their main courses as well. This is a good idea if a student wants to have general knowledge in all aspects which may help him in his life after studies. For example, if an electrical engineer do have some plumbing knowledge which he studied during his studies, it may help him in future when he's in need of a plumber at home. In this way, despite being an engineer, he would be able to perform other tasks as well.
On the other hand, there are some students who wants to take a single subject and master it. These students believe that it is okay to ignore the mass if you want to be extremely good in a single subject. For instance, being a doctor is not an easy task and if you leave any other subject in order to become a good doctor or a surgeon, you lost nothing.
In conclusion, both of concepts are valid at some extent but I believe that if you want to give excellent in one field, it's okay to neglect the other subject during your studies.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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. The example regarding the electrical engineer and plumbing is a bit simplistic and does not fully explore the academic implications of the topic. Similarly, the argument for specialization is brief and could have been supported with more depth regarding career competitiveness or academic rigor. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more sophisticated reasoning and concrete, relevant examples that demonstrate a deeper understanding of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. However, the flow between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the transition between the general idea of learning other subjects and the specific plumbing example could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly repetitive. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that ideas build logically upon one another would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. Phrases like 'a common debate' and 'a good idea' are quite basic. There are also some minor collocation issues, such as 'ignore the mass' (likely meaning 'ignore other subjects') and 'give excellent in one field' (should be 'excel'). To improve, you should aim to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to higher education and professional development, while being careful with word choice to ensure accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('if an electrical engineer do have', 'some students who wants') and preposition errors ('focus to their main subjects' instead of 'focus on'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to impact the score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and refining the use of prepositions will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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