Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is true that different universities are offering extra-curricular subjects to their students along with the main course. While being totally determined for a qualification helps students be a strong competitor, flexible knowledge is crucial. I believe universities should integrate extra courses in their curriculum to focus on the overall development of students.

It is common for our society to perceive the university study as a means to get expertise, and it is obvious that focusing entirely on a particular program make us highly qualified in a specific field. Restricting our focus and intention on assessing only a particular matter helps us understand the subject matter in depth, leading to the acquisition of substantial knowledge. For example, if medical students are provided with series of optional courses, they cannot manage their time on actual medical related subjects, acting as a barrier for them in their journey to become a doctor. Furthermore, sometimes additional courses only cost the time and money of students, with no visible positive changes in them. However, focusing on only one subject may be monotonous for learners.

On the other hand, providing students with multiple optional courses makes learning process very interesting and refreshing. Students can escape from the frustration and stress resulting from their main stream courses if they get a chance to engage in other subjects. Moreover, these additional courses can act a support for main courses by facilitating students to develop those skills that increases the efficiency of expertise they gain from their main course. For instance, extra course, such as moral value can aid doctor to be more demanding among clients.

In conclusion, additional courses must be integrated in a syallabus of a university to help students learn in all directions by ensuring enough focus on qulification at the same time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For instance, the argument regarding medical students provides a concrete example of the potential drawbacks of extra-curricular study. However, the development of the opposing view could be more nuanced; the example of 'moral values' is a bit vague. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that all examples are fully explored to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the implications of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, there are minor instances where the flow could be smoother, such as the transition between the discussion of medical students and the general statement about monotony. Overall, the structure is clear and the logical flow is maintained throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, with some attempts at using less common items like 'monotonous', 'facilitating', and 'integration'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'demanding among clients' (which is unclear) and 'syallabus' (a spelling error). The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and sophisticated collocation required for a higher band. Focusing on more precise academic collocations would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'program make us' (subject-verb agreement), 'series of optional courses' (missing article), and 'skills that increases' (subject-verb agreement). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex sentence structures needs to be more consistent to ensure error-free production in more sophisticated clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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