Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-02

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)

Some university students believe that they should learn other subjects in addition to their main subjects, while other think that it is more important to concentrate only on the main subjects. This essay will discuss both views. In my opinion, although concentration on your main subject is necessary, studying other subject is also important for learning something new apart from the main subject which can be beneficial for jobs market.

On the one hand, some people believe that student should study only their main subjects. The main reason is managing classes, assignment, quizzes and exam are very hard and it needs a lot of effort. studying unrelated subject can distract them from their main courses. For example, an engineering student studying and completing their projects before the deadlines is quite hard. Therefore, students should concentrate only on their main subjects rather than unrelated courses which can give him tough time later.

On the other hand, other argue that students should study other subjects in addition to their main subjects. One of the most important reason is that studying other subject increased your knowledge and skills. An engineering students who studied business or communication may became better in handling projects and can work in tough situations. In addition, studying other subjects improve the profile of a student and it increase the chances of getting jobs. For example, Harvard university preferred those students who actually study other subjects with their main subjects and have some extracurricular activities.

In conclusion, although focusing only on their main subjects and achieving their qualification have benefits, studying other subjects with their main subjects increase their knowledge and skill more. I believe that students should maintain a strong focus on their main field while also spending some time studying other relevant subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the argument regarding the job market and skill acquisition. However, some points could be more thoroughly extended; for instance, the example of Harvard University is a bit vague and could be better integrated to support the argument about extracurricular activities. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points while reiterating the student's stance. Overall, the response meets the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0, as it covers the task well but lacks the depth of development required for higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'it' or 'they' which occasionally lacks a clear antecedent. Despite these minor flaws, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'qualification', 'extracurricular', and 'distract'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices are slightly imprecise or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'subjects' and 'main'. There are also minor collocation errors, such as 'increased your knowledge' (should be 'increases') and 'getting jobs' (could be 'securing employment'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it does not consistently reach the level of precision or sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the student attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'other argue', 'student should study', 'it increase') and pluralization (e.g., 'studying other subject'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some missing commas in complex sentences. These errors are noticeable and occur throughout the text, but they do not impede the reader's understanding of the main arguments. To improve, the student should focus on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency.

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