Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-09

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)

increse in knowledge >learn more >

exposure to more wisdom > development of personality

passionate > more dedication

other///

limited knowledge

less focus on main subjects

less desire

nowadays, with the rapid development of society.Should university students study additional subjects or they only focus on thier qualification. this issue has become incresingly significant in the modern era.while this trend offers several advantages certain drawbacks are also there such as reduced focus on the main subject and increased academic pressure. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

to begin with one significant advantage of studying additional subjects is that student can broaden thier knowledge spectrum and develop a wider range of skills.this is because different range of subjects provide different range of wisdom which can be helpful in developing student mindset. and become more creative and open-minded with practical skills.as a rsult they can improve thier problem solving skill and and make better decisions in both their academic and professional lives.

However, studying additional subjects also has several disadvantages. The most obvious drawback is that student will less able to concentrate on thier main subjects which will reult in unsatisfactory acedemic performance.this may lead to increase in student stress level and become more hard to stay consistent.As a consequence it will ruin his carrer and performance.another challenge is to manage alot of subjects at same time which will increase stress level and he will feel exhausted.this can affect his mental well being and peace.

In conclusion, although studying additional subjects may increase students' workload and academic pressure, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because it will increase thier knowledge and achieve thier goal which they are passionate about.However student should manage thier time effectively and stay persistent

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views: the benefits of studying additional subjects are discussed in the first body paragraph, while reduced concentration, workload and stress are covered in the second. Your position is also clear in the introduction and conclusion: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The points about broader knowledge and problem-solving are relevant, but their development is general; for example, you do not give a specific example of how learning another subject could help a student academically or professionally. The disadvantages are explained somewhat more fully, though the claim that extra subjects could “ruin his career” is not convincingly supported. Develop each main point with a concrete example and explain the comparison behind your overall judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable essay structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “to begin with,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and several ideas are joined mechanically with “and,” “this,” or “as a consequence.” For instance, the first body paragraph moves from knowledge to creativity, practical skills and decision-making without clearly showing how these points connect. Some references, such as “this trend” and “it,” are also vague. Use clearer topic sentences, organise each paragraph around one main idea, and make links between claims and explanations more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “broaden their knowledge,” “problem solving,” “academic pressure,” and “mental well-being.” These choices help communicate the main ideas. However, spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural combinations are noticeable, including “thier,” “incresingly,” “knowledge spectrum,” and “different range of wisdom.” Some wording is also repetitive, particularly “increase” and “stress level,” which limits flexibility. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. You could describe the benefit as gaining “a broader knowledge base,” and refer to “increased stress” rather than repeatedly using “stress level.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “although” and a reason clause with “because.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems make the writing less controlled. For example, “student will less able to concentrate” is missing a verb form, while “this may lead to increase in student stress level and become more hard” has problems with articles, sentence structure and comparison. Several sentences also run together after full stops or begin with lowercase letters. Review subject–verb agreement, articles and complete verb phrases, and use full stops and commas to separate ideas. More accurate complex sentences would improve clarity.

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