Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-12

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 7.0)

Some university students prefer concentrating their efforts on their major subjects while others are more open to studying different minor courses. The former group argues for the importance of specialization in a world where knowledge is expanding at an unprecedented pace. However, I agree with the latter group since interdisciplinary knowledge is crucial in a world facing increasingly complex challenges.

Students who opt for focusing only on courses related to their degree view other subject materials as a distraction and a waste of time and effort. They believe that as the boundaries of knowledge in one field are expanding at an accelerating speed, it is becoming more difficult to get exposed to other areas, and doing so at university might jeopardize their academic performance in compulsory courses. Besides, they think that delving into one specific area may help them become specialists who can compete for positions in the job market requiring more articulate expertise. Overall, their opinion is that the borders between fields ought to remain intact.

On the other hand, other students find it important to invest their time at university to get to know about other fields, so they can make wiser decisions regarding career options and be prepared for modern challenges whose resolutions require interdisciplinary discourse. In my opinion, taking minor courses in other disciplines at university can foster understanding between professionals of different backgrounds in the workforce. The number of research collaborations between natural and social scientists is increasing, where they explore challenging avenues such as the epigenetic changes observed in survivors of war trauma.

To conclude, while the preference of some university students to refrain from studying subjects other than their majors has valid reasons, current global challenges require less strict borders between specialists in order to be solved. Multi-disciplinary training at university, to my mind, will help young people tap into emerging issues that not only pose ethical questions but more often ethical ones.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on university education and presenting a clear, well-supported personal position throughout. In the first paragraph, you introduce the two contrasting perspectives and clearly state your agreement with studying minor courses. In the body paragraphs, you explore the rationale behind specialization—such as rapid knowledge expansion and academic focus—before balancing this with a strong justification for interdisciplinary learning, citing the value of collaborative research. The ideas are fully developed and extended with relevant explanations and examples, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.5 to 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your essay demonstrates clear logical organization and a smooth progression of ideas from the introduction through the body paragraphs to the conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'The former group', 'However', 'Besides', and 'On the other hand' are utilized flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through your arguments. Referencing is clear and unambiguous throughout the text. The overall arrangement is coherent, earning a solid Band 7.5 score for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suitable for an academic discussion. Less common items such as 'interdisciplinary', 'specialization', 'unprecedented pace', 'jeopardize', and 'epigenetic changes' show a good awareness of style and collocation. Although there is a minor repetitive slip in the final sentence ('pose ethical questions but more often ethical ones' where you likely intended to contrast ethical with practical or other types of questions), your general word choice is precise and communicates complex ideas effectively, placing your lexical performance firmly at Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a wide variety of complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Examples such as conditional and relative clauses ('Students who opt for focusing only on courses related to their degree view...', 'Multi-disciplinary training at university, to my mind, will help...') demonstrate very good control of grammar and punctuation. There is only a minor slip in your concluding sentence where a word appears to be duplicated or misused ('ethical questions but more often ethical ones'), but this does not impede communication in any way. Your control over complex syntax justifies a Band 7.5.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.