Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-01
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)
Nowadays it is debated that students should also learn extra subjects other than those that are necessary for their qualification however some people suggest they should not.
The students that want to study additional subjects are supported by the proverb that says ''don't be a frog of well''. Such students are creative and are passionate in gaining knowledge. They want to learn all aspects of life. They are nerds and are eager to seek information. They also believe that a person should be prepared for all the consequences for example if he has done masters in English he should also be aware of science as at some point in his life he may suffer from such incidents where science is involved.
Nonetheless the group of scholars reflect that their one and only focus should be the particular subject that they are studying. Because if they would try to study all the subjects that might divert their attention from the main goal. They may lose their focus from their path. They should be perfect in their field rather than try to run after different preys. For instance a guy name John was studying algebra as he had his exam the other day but then all of a sudden if wanted to learn how donkeys mate and he wasted all of his time.
In my opinion, I strongly believe that a person should only give attention to the things for which he is responsible. Like a surgeon is responsible for surgeries so, his main and only work should be doing that instead of making dams and other stuff.
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 both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. The example provided in the third paragraph regarding 'donkeys' is inappropriate for an academic essay and lacks the necessary formality. Furthermore, the argument in the final paragraph is quite narrow, suggesting that professionals should only focus on their specific tasks, which ignores the benefits of interdisciplinary knowledge. To improve, you should provide more balanced, sophisticated arguments and ensure that your examples are relevant and professional in tone.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often mechanical. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'Nonetheless' and 'For instance', they are sometimes used incorrectly or in a way that feels forced. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Additionally, the lack of clear topic sentences makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of your argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and academic tone required for higher bands. Phrases like 'nerds', 'run after different preys', and 'making dams and other stuff' are informal and inappropriate for an academic essay. There is a limited range of vocabulary, and some word choices are imprecise. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding colloquialisms. Expanding your vocabulary to include more sophisticated, topic-specific terminology would help demonstrate a wider range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'a guy name John'), incorrect verb forms, and punctuation errors. Some sentences are awkward, such as 'Nowadays it is debated that students should also learn extra subjects'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement, proper article usage, and refining your sentence structure to ensure greater accuracy and variety.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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