Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-04

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 are interested in learning about different subjects other than their main subjects. Contrary to this, others believe that it is important to allot all the time and attention to study for a qualification. I personally believe that it is beneficial to study other subjects which are relevant to the main subject, which can also be helpful in a number of ways.

On the on hand, folks think that students should study only the core subjects. This perspective can be explained by a number of reasons. Firstly, the curriculum of study is designed in a way that it is suitable to be completed in a time period and pushes students to work hard and go beyond their limit to understand the concepts. Not all students are capable of learning extra curriculum. Secondly, learning other subjects can take up a considerable amount of time which can be used to strengthen their main subjects.

On the other hand, there are numerous positives from learning extra subjects. Acquiring knowledge about any other field can help them view their main subject from a different perspective. It can be useful and can act as a complementary to their main courses. Today's technological era requires multiple skills in a job candidate which can be acquired by learning other subjects. For example, greater number of universities around the globe have added an extra course for Artificial Intelligence which is useful in almost all subjects and can help students stay updated.

To conclude, learning only main subjects is necessary for all students, but it is suggested that they should acquire knowledge in other field so as to develop their skills.

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, such as the mention of time constraints for the first view and the benefit of interdisciplinary knowledge for the second. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'not all students are capable' is a bit vague and could have been expanded with a concrete example. The conclusion is a bit brief and could have better synthesised the main points. Overall, the response is well-structured and meets the requirements of the task, though further depth in the supporting arguments would elevate the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some minor issues with flow; for example, the transition between the first and second body paragraph could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints, which contributes to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some good phrases like 'allot all the time', 'complementary to their main courses', and 'technological era'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices or minor errors, such as 'extra curriculum' (should be 'extracurricular activities') and 'act as a complementary' (should be 'act as a complement'). While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express complex ideas more fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You show control over basic grammar, and most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some minor errors, such as 'On the on hand' (a typo) and 'in a time period' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Additionally, 'greater number of universities' should be 'a greater number of universities'. While you use some complex structures, they are not always perfectly accurate. Increasing the variety of complex sentence forms and ensuring consistent accuracy in articles and prepositions would help in achieving a higher band score.

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

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