Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-17

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 7.5)

University students have different opinions about whether they should explore subjects outside their main field of study or devote all of their time to obtaining their qualification. While focusing exclusively on a degree can help students achieve strong academic results, I believe that studying additional subjects can provide valuable skills and a broader perspective.

On the one hand, concentrating entirely on one's major can have several advantages. University qualifications often require students to acquire extensive knowledge and complete demanding assignments, examinations and projects. Therefore, spending most of their time on their main subject may enable students to understand complex concepts more thoroughly and achieve higher grades. This can be particularly important in fields such as medicine, engineering and computer science, where students need specialised knowledge to pursue professional careers. For example, a medical student who spends additional hours studying anatomy and pharmacology may develop a stronger understanding of these subjects and perform better in examinations.

On the other hand, learning subjects beyond one's major can help students develop a wider range of knowledge and transferable skills. Subjects such as communication, psychology, economics or computer science can complement a student's main area of study and make them more adaptable in the workplace. In addition, university is not only a place to obtain a qualification but also an opportunity to explore different interests. For instance, a business student who takes a course in data analysis may later be able to use analytical tools to make better business decisions, giving them skills that are useful across different careers.

In my opinion, although students should give sufficient attention to their main qualification, they should not completely ignore other areas of education. A balanced approach is more beneficial because it allows students to develop expertise in their chosen field while also gaining additional knowledge and practical skills. Universities should therefore encourage students to take a limited number of relevant courses outside their major without allowing these subjects to interfere with their core studies.

In conclusion, focusing solely on a qualification can help students develop specialised knowledge and achieve strong academic results, whereas studying additional subjects can broaden their knowledge and improve their versatility. I believe that maintaining a reasonable balance between the two approaches is the most beneficial option for university students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on university education and clearly stating a well-developed personal position. The introduction establishes the two perspectives, while the body paragraphs provide detailed arguments and relevant examples for each side. For instance, the discussion on specialised fields such as medicine and engineering effectively illustrates why some students focus exclusively on their core subjects. Furthermore, the counter-argument regarding transferable skills in disciplines like business and data analysis is well-supported with logical examples. The conclusion smoothly synthesises these arguments to reinforce the writer's balanced viewpoint. Ideas are extended and supported thoroughly throughout the text, meeting all requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a well-defined introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs, and concluding with a clear summary of the writer's opinion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'In my opinion' are used naturally and effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is managed skilfully, with each paragraph developing a single central theme. Referencing is clear and unambiguous, ensuring that ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next without any noticeable disruption.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource that allows for precise expression of ideas. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skilfully throughout the essay, such as 'devote all of their time', 'complemented a student's main area of study', and 'transferable skills'. Word choice is generally very accurate and appropriate for an academic context. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these never impede communication. Spelling and word formation are consistently correct, reflecting a strong command of vocabulary across a range of academic and general topics.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control of subordination, relative clauses, and participial phrases, as seen in sentences like 'Subjects such as communication, psychology, economics or computer science can complement a student's main area of study and make them more adaptable in the workplace.' Punctuation is handled accurately throughout, and complex sentence forms are constructed with confidence. Only very occasional, non-systematic slips occur, which do not detract from the overall clarity of the communication.

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