Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-08

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)

Many university going students believe that learn about minor subjects add to their major subjects, but there is disagreement about whether it should be only focus to studying major subjects. And I largely agree with that university students should be add minor subjects to their major subjects because it has so many benefits.

One major reason for this is that if students adding minor subjects to their major subjects, students balancing their personal interest. For example, their hobbies and creative projects. As a result, students gain their academic strengths and they have long-term career goals. And this can be more beneficial for their future and it's also helpful for their work life.

On the one hand, many university going students believe they only focusing their major subjects because they gave full attention to studying for a qualification. From their opinion another important advantage is that if they fully focus on their major subjects, they would build skills in their field. For example, if they gain experience in their major, they would get a better job in their future. That's why they only pay attention to their major subjects.

In conclusion, I strongly agree with that university students should be adding minor subjects to their major subjects because get a job and if they gain experience only in their major, it's not be gave their more benefits. This can only lead their major and they don't have the experience in any other fields. And it's not good foe their future because only get a job is not the main target they should gain experience in any other fields with their major.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear overall preference for studying additional subjects, and you include a relevant reason: they may allow students to pursue personal interests and support future work. You also represent the opposing view, explaining that concentrating on a qualification can build expertise and improve job prospects. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The benefits of broader study are asserted rather than explained in detail, and the example of hobbies and creative projects is not connected clearly to a specific academic or career outcome. Your conclusion repeats your preference but becomes difficult to follow and does not clearly weigh the two views. Develop each side with a specific example and explain how it supports your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate discussion of the two views, and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify the main topic and your position. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven, and several ideas are joined mechanically with “And,” “For example,” and “As a result.” The first body paragraph moves from personal interests to academic strengths and career goals without showing the links between them. The conclusion repeats earlier points and ends with a confusing sequence of claims. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each example directly to its point, and avoid repeating the same claim. More precise referencing would also help readers see what “this” and “they” refer to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the central topic, using relevant terms such as “major subjects,” “qualification,” “skills,” and “career goals.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, particularly “major subjects” and “future.” Some word combinations are unnatural or unclear, including “university going students,” “balancing their personal interest,” and “gain their academic strengths.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to interpret. Aim for more precise academic collocations, such as “university students,” “pursue personal interests,” and “develop academic strengths.” Check spelling as well: “foe” in the conclusion should be “for.” Varying repeated terms with accurate alternatives would make the argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “if they fully focus on their major subjects, they would build skills in their field.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to understand. For example, “if students adding minor subjects” needs a finite verb form, while “students should be add” has an incorrect verb pattern. There are also problems with sentence boundaries and clause construction, as in “And I largely agree with that…” and the long final sentence, which contains several ideas without clear grammatical links. Practise accurate subject–verb patterns, modal verbs followed by the base form, and shorter sentences that express one main idea at a time.

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