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 7.0

The student has fully addressed all parts of the task by discussing both views—focusing exclusively on a main qualification versus exploring additional subjects—and providing a clear personal opinion throughout the response. In the second paragraph, the writer explains the advantages of concentrating entirely on a major, such as mastering complex concepts in fields like medicine or engineering. In the third paragraph, the benefits of acquiring transferable skills from other disciplines are well articulated and supported with a relevant example regarding a business student learning data analysis. The conclusion and overall stance are consistent and well-developed. The response meets all the requirements of Band 7 and exhibits strong qualities of Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-formulated introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs examining both sides of the issue, a clear personal opinion paragraph, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'For instance'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the reader can effortlessly follow the writer's line of reasoning from one point to the next. Referencing and substitution are managed with precision, creating a seamless and cohesive text that easily satisfies the Band 8 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skilfully and with good awareness of collocation and style, such as 'transferable skills', 'specialised knowledge', 'adaptable in the workplace', and 'analytical tools'. Word choice is generally precise, with phrases like 'devote all of their time to obtaining their qualification' showing strong control. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication in any way. The lexical range easily justifies a Band 7.5 score, sitting comfortably between the descriptors for Band 7 and Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer uses a wide variety of complex structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. Sentences such as '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' demonstrate excellent command of subordinate clauses and parallel structures. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. Grammar and syntax are controlled consistently, showing strong evidence of advanced proficiency that meets the criteria for Band 8.

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