Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-28
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 4.5)
It is often argued that some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects, whereas others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. I disagree with the former idea because students study for a qualification is help their future such as future career. On the other hand, the former idea has some advantages, Because, they can find the future career that they genuinely want to do. For example, they might find
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response is significantly under the required 250-word minimum, reaching only 87 words. Because the essay is incomplete and cuts off mid-sentence, it fails to address the prompt adequately. While the student attempts to introduce both sides of the argument and state a position, the ideas are not developed, and the essay lacks a conclusion or sufficient supporting evidence. The failure to meet the length requirement severely limits the ability to demonstrate the ability to develop a coherent argument, resulting in a low score for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5
The text is too brief to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical progression of ideas. While there is a basic attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'whereas' and 'on the other hand', the overall structure is fragmented. The response ends abruptly, which prevents the development of a coherent argument. To improve, the student must ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that ideas are linked logically throughout a full-length essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'future career' and 'subjects'. There is little evidence of a range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. The phrasing is often simplistic, and the limited length prevents the demonstration of a wider lexical range or the use of less common items. To achieve a higher score, the student should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and varied collocations related to education and career development.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response contains several grammatical errors that impede clarity. For example, 'students study for a qualification is help their future' is grammatically incorrect and lacks proper sentence structure. There is also an issue with punctuation and capitalization, such as the unnecessary capitalization of 'Because' mid-sentence. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in verb tense and clause construction. More practice with complex sentence structures and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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