Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-09

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)

It is undeniable that university education plays an important role in developing student knowledge and preparing for future career . In this regard Some university students want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects. While others believe it is more important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. This essay will outline not only both perspectives but also my oppinion for regarding former point of view in forthcoming fragment with logical conclusion .

To commence with , there are several points for regrading former point of view. Firstly develop additional skills . To expalin it that additional subjects helps to learn additional skills such as better communication , creativity , problem solving and critical thinking . which are benefical for both studies and career . For example a science student have best communication skills so they get presentation in front os teachers abd students with full confident . Secondly it heps to broader knowledge . To clarify it that student learn different subjects with main subjects helps to increase a knowledge . A computer science student lear business managment then in future it may work in technology managment company or even open their business .

However , There are also few points for regarding latter point of view . First and foremost are avoid unnecessary pressure . To justify it that taking to much additional subjects increase a pressure on student . Then student may perform poor in main subjects because they have not much time avaliable to studies .As a result they feel stressed and depressed . Moreover develop specialised skills . In other words student focus on main subjects which allow them to develop deep knowledge and become a specalist in his field . For example engineer student constratye on main subjects can develop technical knowledge which is helpful for their proffesion .

In conclusion althogh there are several point for latter point of view such as specialist in their field . Yet according to me benefits of former point can never be neglected at any cost .

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding 'broadening knowledge' is supported by a generic example of a computer science student learning business management, but the link to the prompt is not fully explored. The structure is logical, but the ideas lack depth and nuance, often relying on repetitive phrasing. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the points discussed. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand your supporting points with more detailed explanations and specific, real-world examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. Phrases like 'To commence with' and 'To justify it that' are used repetitively and do not always flow naturally. There are also issues with referencing; for example, 'former point of view' is used repeatedly, which makes the text feel stilted. While the overall progression is logical, the transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices and spelling errors, such as 'oppinion', 'regrading', 'expalin', and 'constratye'. The range of vocabulary is limited, with frequent repetition of basic terms like 'subjects', 'knowledge', and 'skills'. To improve, you should focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. Additionally, careful proofreading is necessary to eliminate basic spelling mistakes that detract from the professional tone of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'increase a pressure'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'student learn different subjects'), and punctuation errors, particularly with the placement of commas. Some sentences are fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement, such as 'a science student have best communication skills'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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