Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-06

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)

Some university student believe that they should study other subjects in addition to thier main subjects, while others think that they should spend all their time focusing on their qualification. in my opion stiudents should mainly focus on their main subject, but learning some other subjects can also be useful in future.

On the one hand, studying other subjects can give studenrts a wider range of knowledge university is not a place to get a qualification, but also a place to learn different skills. for example, a business student can learn basic computer skills, communication or psyv=chology. these subjects can help students in their future jobs. moreever, learning different subjects cannmake students more creative becuase they canj understand problems from different point of view.

on other hansd spending more time on the main subjects has some importanmt advantages. universities courses san be diffiucukt, and students need enough time to understand thier lessonas ams prepare for exams. if they study too many different subject theuy nmay not have enough time to complete thier coures properly. for example a medical student needs to spend a lot time studying medical subjects becuade these subjescts are directly related tothier future career. gettibng goodknowledge in the nmain field can also increase their chances of findind a good jobs.

Althoough studying other subjects can provude wider knowledge and skills, i believethat univesities students should give priorirty ti thier main qualification while learning other subjects in a limited and usefull way.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state a clear preference: students should prioritise their qualification while studying other subjects “in a limited and useful way.” Relevant examples, such as a business student learning communication skills and a medical student needing time for specialist study, help explain the contrast. However, the discussion is brief and several points are asserted rather than developed. For instance, you say broader study can make students “more creative,” but do not explain how this might benefit them. The conclusion repeats your position without adding much synthesis. The response is also six words below the required minimum, so it does not fully meet the task’s length requirement. Develop each main reason with a clearer explanation or specific example, and ensure the response reaches the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a concluding opinion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “on other hands,” and “Although” make the direction of the argument easy to follow, and the examples are placed with the relevant points. This coherent structure meets the lower-band expectations and shows some stronger control through paragraphing and progression. To make the flow more consistently smooth, use linking expressions accurately and avoid relying mainly on formulaic transitions. Some sentences run together, particularly in the first body paragraph, where the point about university and the example need clearer sentence boundaries. Also make references explicit—for example, clarify what “these subjects” refers to—and connect each example back to the paragraph’s main claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “qualification,” “communication,” “creative,” “exams,” and “future career.” However, the range is limited and some wording is imprecise or repetitive, such as “other subjects,” “main subjects,” and “good” knowledge. Numerous spelling errors—including “thier,” “becuase,” and “univesities”—are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause or work out the intended word. There are also awkward combinations such as “increase their chances of finding a good jobs.” Build a more accurate set of phrases for discussing academic study and career benefits, and proofread spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary and natural collocations would make the argument clearer and more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast in the opening and a conditional-style explanation: “if they study too many different subject they may not have enough time.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but control is uneven. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “Some university student believe,” missing or incorrect articles and plurals, and faulty sentence boundaries where a full stop or capital letter is needed. The conditional sentence also needs grammatical correction: “too many different subjects” and “they may not have enough time.” These issues, alongside limited variety in accurately controlled structures, keep the writing from showing consistent control. Practise checking agreement, articles, plural nouns, and punctuation, then use a wider range of complex sentences accurately.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.