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)

Some university students feel it's valuable to explore subjects outside their main area of study, while other believe they should devote all thier energy to their qualifications. Both side have good reasons.

Focusing only on one subject helps students build strong expertise. For instance, a medical student who spends all their time on core courses is more likely to graduate with the depth of knowledge needed to treat patients safely. Employers also tend to value specialists, since they can trust that person to handle complex tasks in their field

At the same time, learning beyond one's major can open doors. A computer science student who takes classes in business or communication may find it easier to work in teams, manage projects, or even start their own company. Exposure to different disciplines often sparks creativity, because ideas from one area can inspire solutions in another. For example, many successful entrepreneurs combine technical knowledge with marketing or finance skills, which allows them to turn innovative ideas into practical business. In addition, studying a wider range of subjects can make university like more engaging and less haptic.

Personally, I think mix works best. Student should give priority to their main subject so they graduate with solid skills, but taking a few extra courses can make them more adaptable and confident in the real world. modern workplaces often demand more than technical expertise - they need people who can connect ideas and work across disciplines.

In conclusion, Specialization builds depth, while variety builds flexibility. a balanced approach

helps students succed both academically and professionally

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on whether university students should study other subjects or focus entirely on their qualifications. A clear position is maintained throughout, particularly in the conclusion and body paragraphs where you argue for a balanced approach. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the medical student focusing on core courses and the computer science student taking business classes. The progression of arguments is logical and meets all requirements of the prompt effectively, earning a strong band score in this category.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are grouped effectively into paragraphs, with each body paragraph having a distinct focus either on specialization or broad learning. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'At the same time,' 'For example,' and 'In addition,' which help guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, although some transitions and cohesive ties could be slightly more sophisticated to reach a higher band level. Overall, the structural flow is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'depth of knowledge,' 'innovative ideas,' and 'cross disciplines.' However, there are a few spelling and typographical errors, such as 'thier' instead of 'their' and 'succed' instead of 'succeed,' along with minor word choice slips like 'haptic' instead of 'frantic' or 'stressful' and the incomplete sentence fragment 'like more engaging.' Despite these limitations, the vocabulary is adequate to communicate ideas clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is a satisfactory mix of simple and complex sentence forms used throughout the essay. Complex structures are attempted successfully, such as 'A computer science student who takes classes in business or communication may find it easier to work in teams...' However, there are noticeable grammatical and punctuation errors, including capitalization slips ('Student should give priority,' 'modern workplaces,' 'Specialization builds depth,' 'a balanced approach'), missing articles, and fragment sentences in the final paragraph ('a balanced approach helps students succed both academically and professionally'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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