Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-21
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)
Some university learners want to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subject, and others believe that it is crucial to give all their time and attention to studying for a qualification. While I agree with the latter statement, both views will be discussed in the forthcoming paragraphs.
To begin with, there are many reasons why some university learners want to learn about other subjects in addition to the main subject. First and foremost, if student learns studying, if student learns studying different subjects, the student gain knowledge, which develop their other skills. For example, if the student have a medical line and use technology, like learn about basic computer skills, which is more efficiently in the hospital. On the other hand, there are some reasons why focus only the main qualification. First and foremost, students achieve better scores and become highly skilled in which they choose their career. Also, if student learn about biological subjects, for example, they learn about the parts and want to know about the in-depth knowledge about the biology subject, which helps the students learn about the skill that is biology and want to become a professional doctor after completing their course. To the conclusion, studying different subjects gives students broader knowledge and helps them, and on the other hand, focus only one main qualification, focus students achieve better grades.
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 views regarding whether university students should study other subjects or focus entirely on their main qualification, and a position is presented in the introduction. However, the task achievement is constrained because the essay falls below the 250-word minimum, containing only 227 words. Furthermore, the ideas are relatively under-developed and lack sufficient extension. For instance, the arguments regarding studying multiple subjects and focusing purely on the main subject are repetitive and lack clear, well-supported examples. The example about a medical student learning computer skills is relevant but poorly articulated, and the conclusion simply restates the prompt without fully synthesizing the arguments. Consequently, the response aligns best with Band 5 due to the limited development of ideas and the penalty applied for failing to meet the minimum word length.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay demonstrates some overall organisation with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. However, progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and inadequate paragraphing. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'First and foremost' to introduce points. Paragraphing is attempted, but the body paragraphs contain mixed ideas that should be separated for better logical flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly with pronouns like 'it' and 'which' in complex sentences. Overall, the essay shows some basic organisation but lacks clear overall progression and cohesive control, fitting the Band 5 descriptors well.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and repetitive, which restricts the range for this task. The student frequently repeats words such as 'subject', 'learn', 'student', and 'qualification' rather than using synonyms. There are also noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'if student learns studying' and 'focus only the main qualification', which cause some difficulty for the reader. While the vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey a basic meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Therefore, the lexical resource is reflective of a Band 5 performance.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but sentences are frequently marred by grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. Examples include structural issues like 'if the student have a medical line and use technology' and 'which is more efficiently in the hospital.' Subject-verb agreement errors and incorrect verb forms are common throughout the text, such as 'student gain knowledge' and 'focus students achieve better grades.' While some simple sentences are clear, attempts at more complex structures often result in faulty grammar that can cause difficulty for the reader. This performance aligns with Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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