Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-30

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 5.5)

There is an ongoing debate about whether students should learn additional subjects other than their main courses. While some people believe that subjects other than their curriculum is beneficial, others argue that this could create distraction and burden for the students. I completely agree with the latter view, as I believe students should focus on subjects which will help them in future.

On the one hand, one of the primary reasons behind this view is students will have additional time to revise for their main subjects. This is mainly because students will have less subjects to focus and study, Which consequently make them less overwhelmed. For instance students may have to study five main subjects instead of eight. allowing them to memorize and concentrate in their studies.This will help them to achieve better grades.

On the other hand, an equally convincing argument can be made in favour of additional subjects to be introduced in academic curriculum. This is largely because students will have more option to persue in future, which in turn help them to aqquire better job opportunities. For instance, students learning about Artificial intelligence as an additional course will have better understanding and have more options. Consequently, they will have additional skills. Thus, this viewpoint also holds considerable merit.

In conclusion, both viewpoints have valid points; while focusing on main subjects allows students to concentrate more effectively on their studies, learning additional subjects provides them with a wider range of skills and future opportunities. In my opinion, students should primarily focus on their main subjects because this can reduce their academic burden and help them achieve better grades.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—learning additional subjects versus focusing solely on a main qualification—and clearly states an opinion in favor of the latter. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas in the body paragraphs is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. For instance, the first body paragraph argues that focusing on main subjects reduces academic burden and helps students achieve better grades, which is a solid point, but it remains brief and relies on general assertions rather than fully elaborated examples. The counter-argument in the third paragraph is acknowledged, but the student ultimately prioritizes their own stance in the conclusion. Overall, the response meets the requirements for Band 6.5, leaning towards Band 7 for clear positioning, but capped by under-developed supporting ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs presenting contrasting views, and a summary conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader through the structure. However, paragraphing and referencing contain minor mechanical flaws. For instance, the sentence starting with 'Which consequently make them less overwhelmed' features a capital letter mid-sentence and a fragment error that disrupts smooth cohesion. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes imprecise, as seen with 'behind this view is students will have'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, but the mechanical errors in cohesion prevent the text from reaching a higher band. Overall, the organizational structure is coherent, fitting the Band 6 descriptors well.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, including terms such as 'curriculum', 'overwhelmed', 'academic burden', and 'considerable merit'. Attempts to use less common vocabulary are evident, but these are occasionally marred by spelling and word-choice inaccuracies. For example, the student writes 'less subjects' instead of 'fewer subjects', 'persue' instead of 'pursue', and 'aqquire' instead of 'acquire'. Additionally, 'Artificial intelligence' contains an unnecessary capital letter. While these errors do not impede communication, they demonstrate limitations in lexical control that prevent a higher score. The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows the writer to convey their message clearly, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses ('While some people believe that...') and conditional constructions. However, there is a noticeable frequency of grammatical errors and punctuation lapses. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'students will have less subjects to focus and study, Which consequently make them less overwhelmed' (where 'subjects' requires 'fewer' and 'make' lacks agreement with the singular/plural antecedent), as well as missing commas before participial phrases such as 'allowing them to memorize'. Despite these errors, the complex structures attempted are generally understandable and do not impede the overall flow of communication. The control over grammar is characteristic of Band 6, where simple and complex forms are mixed alongside persistent errors.

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

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