Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-08-31
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)
These days, many learners believe they should learn more about other things rather than just main subjects, whilst, some students argue that more essential thing is to spend more time on studying main subjects for qualification. Nevertheless, it is crucial to devote your time to studies but it is also a beneficial thing thing to learn about other subjects.
On the one hand, various students want to learn new subjects other than main subjects, it is a beneficial approach as learners can learn about other important topics which relates to ordinary life. Additionally, they can master new skills. For example, in famous universities like Chandigarh university they offer several additional subjects like a foreign language or AI, through subjects like these they can build a new skill.
On the other hand, some students say that giving their full time to studying main subjects is more essential. It is true that for a qualification and good marks students should spend most of their time studying as their career depends on those subjects and qualification. For instance, for getting certain high standard jobs and professions qualification is the main criteria so every student should learn their main subjects thoroughly.
To conclude, as many students believe they should learn new subjects other than main ones, this is a beneficial thing for them to build new abilities and skills, whereas, some say that denoting more time to main subjects is crucial for career and future. However, both notions are right but it is also very essential to learn new things it will also help in future rather than just giving your time to main subjects.
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 all parts of the prompt by discussing both views and providing a clear opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of learning new subjects and the importance of focusing on main subjects, the arguments could be extended with more depth. For instance, the example of Chandigarh University is relevant, but the explanation of how these subjects specifically impact a student's long-term career or personal growth is brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully supported with detailed reasoning rather than just stating the benefits.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' to signal transitions. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and there is a lack of variety in linking words. Some sentences are joined with comma splices, such as '...main subjects, it is a beneficial approach...', which disrupts the logical flow. Improving the use of referencing and a wider range of cohesive devices would enhance the overall coherence of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'main subjects' and 'beneficial thing', which appears multiple times. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'denoting' instead of 'devoting'. While the meaning is always clear, the lexical range is somewhat limited and does not demonstrate a high level of sophistication or flexibility. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and punctuation. For example, '...some students argue that more essential thing is...' is missing an article, and '...subjects like these they can build...' is a run-on sentence. There is also a repetition of the word 'thing' in the introduction. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on sentence boundary control and article usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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