Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-16
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 5.0)
It is widely acknowledged that some university students wants to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subject but others believe it is important to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. It is well-known that fact that people have different perceptual regarding the aforementioned statement. This essay will discuss both sides of the argument and come to logical conclusion.
To commence with, there are many reasons supporting the topic. To learn about different topics and subjects. To illustrate, in a survey conducted by leading researchers, students learning about new topics are more good in knowledge circle and can choose different fields after their study completed. Hence, it is a undeniable that we cannot ignore the positive outcome of the given notion.
On the contrary, people oppose the topic for strong reasons like: distractions in studies , mind divertion and pressure on students.For instance, reseach conducted in recent years showed that students took so much pressure of studies due to extra subjects and couldn't match the level or focus on the main subjects which can make thier grade go lower and results with poor impact on it. Therefore, one can postulate that this scenario has various drawbacks tht have to be seen.
From what has been discussed, it can be concluded that it is a debatable topic, and the arguments presented have led to divided opinions among experts and general public .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing the view that students should learn additional subjects alongside their main qualification, as well as the opposing view that they should focus entirely on their main studies. The writer also attempts to provide a personal opinion, albeit very briefly in the conclusion. However, the ideas are under-developed, relying on vague generalisations rather than specific examples or robust explanations. Furthermore, the response falls short of the word count requirement, containing only 238 words against the 250-word minimum specified in the task instructions. This under-length limitation restricts the depth of development, resulting in a Band 5.0 score for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay displays a basic overall structure with clear paragraphing, including an introduction, two body paragraphs representing different views, and a brief conclusion. However, progression is frequently hindered by mechanical and faulty cohesive devices. For instance, the second body paragraph begins with sentence fragments ('To learn about different topics and subjects. To illustrate...'), which disrupts the logical flow. Referencing is also weak at times, and repetitive transition phrases are used. While the text is generally readable, the organisational framework shows significant flaws, placing it firmly at Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'aforementioned statement' and 'undeniable'. However, there are numerous inappropriate word choices, awkward collocations, and spelling mistakes throughout the text. Examples include 'wants' instead of 'want' (though primarily grammatical), 'perceptual' instead of 'perspectives', 'more good in knowledge circle' instead of 'more knowledgeable', and 'mind divertion' instead of 'mental distraction'. Vocabulary limitations and inaccuracies noticeably impede the natural flow of the essay, corresponding to a Band 5.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent, noticeable grammatical errors that cause difficulty for the reader. Subject-verb agreement errors are present, such as 'some university students wants' and 'research conducted... showed that students took so much pressure'. Punctuation and phrasing issues are also evident, such as 'tht have to be seen' and missing articles before nouns. Because complex structures are often faulty and errors are frequent, the writing achieves a Band 5.0 for grammatical accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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