Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-23
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 6.0)
Many students today face a choice between should they focus only on their main subject, or should they also explore other areas of study? Both sides have strong points.
On one hand, concentrating only on the main subject helps students become experts. For example, a medical student who spends all their time on medicine will gain deep knowledge and skills. This focus can make them more confident in their career and help them get better opportunities. In competitive fields, specialization is often necessary.
On the other hand, learning about other subjects can make students more flexible and creative. A student of engineering who also studies business or communication may find it easier to work in teams or start their own company. Extra knowledge can open doors to new ideas and make life more interesting. It also helps in developing a balanced personality, because education is not only about jobs but also about understanding the world.
In my opinion, students should give priority to their main subject but also spend some time on other areas. For example, when I was preparing for exams, I focused mainly on my main subject, but I also read about history and literature. This gave me fresh ideas and reduced stress.
To conclude, specialization is important for building a career, but exploring other subjects adds value to personal growth. A mix of both approaches is the best way forward and will help when you will faces the problems and your knowledge will give a door to you.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on whether university students should focus exclusively on their main subjects or also explore other topics, while clearly presenting the writer's own opinion. In the second and third paragraphs, both sides are examined with relevant examples, such as a medical student specializing and an engineering student studying business. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, and the conclusion succinctly reiterates the main stance. The ideas are extended and supported adequately, placing the response solidly within the Band 7 criteria, as all parts of the task are addressed and supported with relevant explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: an introduction, two body paragraphs exploring the opposing views, a personal opinion paragraph, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to link ideas, such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion'. However, referencing and transitional phrases occasionally lean towards formulaic patterns, and paragraphing could be slightly more sophisticated to earn a higher band. Overall, the arrangement is coherent, logical, and easy to follow, fitting the Band 7 descriptor.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'specialization', 'flexible', 'creative', and 'personal growth'. There are some successful word choices that add precision to the arguments. However, the vocabulary is at times repetitive, and minor collocation or word choice issues appear, such as the awkward phrasing in the final sentence ('will faces the problems and your knowledge will give a door to you'). These minor errors do not impede communication, placing the lexical control securely at Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at conditional structures and relative clauses. There are, however, several notable grammatical errors and awkward structures. For instance, the opening sentence contains an embedded question error ('face a choice between should they focus only...'). Furthermore, the final sentence contains tense and structural issues ('when you will faces the problems and your knowledge will give a door to you'). While these errors do not prevent the message from getting across, they indicate that frequent error-free complex sentences are not consistently achieved, supporting a Band 6 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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