Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-07

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)

Most of university students desire to gain knowledge about other core subjects additionally to their regular subjects, while other students thinking to give all their attention and time to main subjects rather than core subjects for their qualification. I totally agree to learn about other subjects additionally.

Firstly, if you have additional subjects rather than your main study subject, you gain much information, knowledge and also skills. We agree that main subjects are important for qualification but for more skill developing and more knowledge extra subjects also having importance like main subjects. By learning main subjects you gain qualification and degrees but you can not learn other skills and not improve your knowledge.

By my view i also face same situation, me and my group choose extra subjects. Some of our teachers and study partners tell us not to chose two more extra subjects because they have fear to learn extra which disturb their regular study. They told us don't waste time on other core subjects because it affects regular study and results, after discussion with them we also get confused what to do? but we don't changed our mind and join extra subjects class which helps us still a day in future development and gaining more n more general knowledge.

In conclusion, i completely agree with the statement to learn about other subjects in addition to their main subjects because it also play a more important role in future development, learning new things, gaining more knowledge and skill developing. It is also important like main subjects for your better qualification for future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear opinion in the introduction and conclusion, supporting the view that students should study additional subjects. The personal example about choosing extra classes is relevant, and you mention the concern that these classes could distract from regular study. However, the opposing view is not explained in enough detail: you report what teachers and classmates said, but do not develop why focusing on a qualification may be valuable or give a concrete example. Your own reasons—broader knowledge, skills and future development—are repeated rather than fully explained. To strengthen the response, discuss both perspectives more evenly and show specifically how extra study benefits students, while acknowledging when concentration on a main subject may be preferable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the sequence from your general argument to a personal example is understandable. Basic signposting such as “Firstly” and “In conclusion” helps identify the stages. However, progression within the body is limited: the first paragraph repeats the claim that extra subjects provide knowledge and skills, while the personal example contains several ideas in one long sentence, making the relationship between the concern, your decision and its outcome difficult to follow. Linking phrases such as “By my view” and “after discussion with them” do not always express the intended relationship clearly. Give each paragraph a distinct purpose, use shorter sentences for the example, and connect claims to explanations with precise transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a small range of topic-related vocabulary, including “qualification,” “skills,” “general knowledge” and “future development,” so the main subject is clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, particularly “extra subjects,” “main subjects” and “more knowledge.” Some word choices and collocations are noticeably unnatural, such as “additional subjects additionally,” “more skill developing” and “helps us still a day in future development.” These expressions can make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. Build a wider set of natural academic phrases and check how words combine; for example, describe gaining transferable skills, broadening knowledge or improving career prospects. Avoid repeating the same key nouns when a precise alternative is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a contrast in the opening and a complex personal example. However, the range is limited, and longer structures often contain frequent errors that make parts of the message difficult to follow. For example, “other students thinking to give” lacks a correctly formed verb, while “extra subjects also having importance” has an incomplete verb structure. There are also problems with agreement and tense in “it also play” and “we don't changed,” as well as sentence boundaries in the long sentence beginning “Some of our teachers.” Practise forming complete clauses, maintaining consistent tense, and checking subject–verb agreement. Breaking complex ideas into shorter, accurately punctuated sentences will improve clarity.

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