Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-07
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)
Education is part and parcel of our life. It is inevitable to choose subjects wisely. Some university students want to learn about other subject in addition to their main subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification.
In this essay, I will discuss both the views and give my own opinion.
Fraction of pupils believed that learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects because students need to have additional knowledge about studies. To be more precise, the additional subjects give them more options to choose their career. Moreover, students got more exposure of different skills, courses and activities.A survey conducted by prestigious newspaper of Britain showed that the pupils have additional subjects are more successful.
However, some believed it is indispensable to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification since everyone judge a scholar from their grades. To be more precise, it is important for students to take good grades for their reputation so it comes from when they gave attention to their main subjects. Moreover, for jobs and many other opportunities qualification can be seen.
I believed that the it is inevitable for learners to get more knowledge about additional subjects they got more greener pastures. For example, the students who learnt communication skills as additional subject have good communication skills.
Different people have different notions regarding this statement but I have sound reasons to advocate that the qualification is good but the additional subjects importance should not be overlooked.
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 essay addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'greener pastures' is vague and lacks specific, well-explained examples. The supporting points, such as the mention of a 'prestigious newspaper,' are underdeveloped and lack depth. While the task is fully addressed, the supporting arguments remain at a surface level, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, you should expand on your reasoning with more detailed explanations and concrete, illustrative examples that directly link to the benefits or drawbacks of studying additional subjects.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover,' 'However,' and 'To be more precise' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For example, the jump between the introduction and the first body paragraph is slightly disjointed. Additionally, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'it comes from when they gave attention to their main subjects,' which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on some repetitive phrasing, such as 'additional subjects' and 'main subjects.' While you attempt some idiomatic expressions like 'part and parcel' and 'greener pastures,' their usage is occasionally slightly unnatural or imprecise in context. There are also minor word-choice errors, such as 'everyone judge a scholar' (should be 'judges') and 'take good grades' (should be 'achieve' or 'get'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic collocations would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder the flow of reading. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('everyone judge,' 'students got more exposure'), tense inconsistencies ('pupils believed that learn'), and article usage errors ('a prestigious newspaper of Britain'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the essay from achieving a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent verb tenses throughout your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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