Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-08
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)
In university, some students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their own subjects. Others believe it is more important to give all their efforts and focus to studying for a qualification.
Overall, students want to learn about other subjects is a good decision because learning other subjects provides valuable broad skills. Whereas there is another perspective and they believe it is more important to give all attention to studying for a degree.
On the one hand, I believe we should focus and give time to our main subjects because if we are focusing and leaning about other subjects on which we are interested, we would lose our grades. This leads to our academic failure. For instant. there are major drawbacks about leaning other subject in addition to main subjects, we would definitely lose our interest in main subjects and there will be a forever guilt for us and there will be a several chances of this our family are in deep pressure because of our academic plans.
On the other hand, there are some benefits of studying other subjects. Learning other subjects provide valuable broad skills. Studying diverse subjects helps individuals acquire a versatile skill set that employers value. Students who are leaning multiple subjects are generally smarter and intellectual than other students. Students who are participating and selecting additional subjects are often outshine their peers in professional environment.
In conclusion, there are some pros and cons. In my opinion, exploring additional subjects could help students to gain more information and they are probably gain competitive edge and acquire a versatile skill.
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 personal opinion, though the development is uneven. The first body paragraph lacks logical clarity, as the argument that studying extra subjects leads to 'academic failure' and 'family pressure' is somewhat hyperbolic and lacks specific, convincing examples. The second body paragraph is better developed, identifying the benefits of a versatile skill set. However, the position is slightly contradictory; you argue against extra subjects in the first paragraph but then acknowledge their benefits in the second, without clearly reconciling these views in your conclusion. To reach a higher band, ensure your arguments are more balanced and logically connected to your stated opinion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the progression within the first body paragraph is disjointed. Phrases like 'For instant' (a spelling error) and the abrupt transition to 'family pressure' make the flow feel mechanical. Additionally, some sentences are repetitive, such as the opening of the second paragraph which mirrors the introduction. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each sentence builds logically on the previous one would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'versatile skill set', 'competitive edge', and 'intellectual'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'leaning' instead of 'learning', 'outshine their peers in professional environment' (missing an article), and 'there will be a several chances'. These errors occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on using collocations correctly and proofreading for common spelling mistakes. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise academic synonyms would also help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors, such as 'students want to learn about other subjects is a good decision' (missing a subject or relative pronoun) and 'they are probably gain competitive edge' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are errors in sentence boundaries and article usage throughout. The majority of your sentences contain minor errors that, while they do not prevent communication, occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of auxiliary verbs to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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