Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-11
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)
Some undergraduates have interest to learn not only main subjects, and the other subjects which classified like additional subjects. But the others opinion says about importance to focus all the time only to studying for a qualification. In my opinion studying other subjects in addition to main subjects is much better to only focus for qualification.
On the one hand, if you give all your time for studying main subjects to improve your skills sounds better than having a hobbies, because if you improve your skills in the professional subjects, it can give you the opportunities to better qualification, and better job in the future. But in the reality, focusing all attention to studying only what you need, by the time can slowly burn your mental health. Scientist says "Doing the same type of actions for over long period can create the boredom in human", and thats why peoples never can be focused on same thing too long.
On the other hand, studying the subjects which is not professional classified, can affect on the main skills which main subjects gives. But if we look at the situtation from different angle we can see. Studying some subjects which is consider like a hobby can significantly increase the mental health of the student, and didnt let him get bored overtime. That is one of the main features to study subjects except the main chosen ones.
Overall, both opinions is good and argumented, there is advantages and disadvantages in the both points of view, but people mostly prefer the second variant.
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 clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'mental health' is a good point, but it lacks specific examples or depth to fully support the claim. The essay covers all parts of the prompt, but the explanation of why one might prefer focusing solely on a qualification is underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed reasoning and concrete examples rather than relying on general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand' to signal shifts in the argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the transitions between sentences can feel abrupt. For example, the sentence 'But if we look at the situtation from different angle we can see' is a bit awkward and lacks a smooth connection to the previous thought. Improving the variety and natural flow of your linking words would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'main subjects' and 'better job', which is repetitive. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'argumented' (should be 'well-argued') and 'variant' (where 'perspective' or 'viewpoint' would be more appropriate). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('both opinions is good'), article usage ('the other subjects which classified'), and awkward phrasing ('didnt let him get bored'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and correct verb forms would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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