Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Few under graduates prefers to learn about other subjects in addition to their main course but others believe it is more importent to give all their time for their qualifacition in their main subjects. I personally prefer the first view as it will give studants chance to know their interest.

On one hand, learning about different subjects can give pupils knowledge about many different future they can pursue and help them know what they would like to move ahead with. For instant, if students do research about different subject they can choose between future that suits them and change to another subject they like if they did not get satisfied. This can also give student better connections with more people which can help them in future.

On other hand, giving all their time and attention to improve their knowledge in one specific subject for better qualification can give better career in that specific subject. This can help students to master that specific subject and get job in high post from the start. For example, if a scholar of accounting subject get good qualification he/she can get a post of manager or even higher post financial sector. They can also get promoted in future with better experience and knowledge.

In conclusion, the former view can give lerners many different choise, help then know what suites them most and choose right profession in their future. Whereas, the lateral view can give postgraduates a better future and post in their future profession in a specific sector.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear preference for learning beyond the main subject: “I personally prefer the first view.” The two body paragraphs give relevant reasons, including exploring career options and gaining expertise for promotion, with an accounting example. However, these ideas are brief and sometimes unclear; for instance, the claim that broader study creates “better connections” is not explained, and the career benefits of focusing on one subject are asserted rather than developed. The conclusion restates the contrast but does not add a fully reasoned final judgement. The response is 243 words, seven words below the required minimum; the 10 words copied from the prompt were not counted. Develop each main point with clearer explanation or a specific example, and meet the minimum length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. The contrast markers “On one hand” and “On other hand” help readers follow the discussion, and the ideas generally remain relevant to their paragraphs. However, progression within the paragraphs is limited, with several claims placed together without enough explanation of how they connect. Some linking is mechanical, and the conclusion’s “Whereas” creates an awkward fragment-like contrast rather than a smoothly connected final statement. References such as “the former view” and “the lateral view” are not fully clear or natural. To improve, use a wider range of accurate transitions and make the relationship between each reason, explanation, and example explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “qualification,” “master,” “career,” and “promoted.” There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “financial sector” and “specific subject.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice or collocation problems make parts of the response less natural, for example “many different future they can pursue,” “get a post of manager,” and “the lateral view.” Spelling errors are noticeable, including “under graduates,” “importent,” “qualifacition,” and “lern ers” (written as “lerners” in the response). Build a bank of accurate academic collocations and check spelling carefully; more precise phrasing will make your ideas easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “if students do research … they can choose” and a relative clause in “a specific subject … which can help them.” These attempts show some range, but control is inconsistent, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include “Few under graduates prefers,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “if a scholar of accounting subject get,” which also has agreement and article problems. Articles, plurals, and sentence construction are often inaccurate, as in “give student better connections” and “choose between future.” Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and verb, correct agreement, and necessary articles. Aim for accurate complex sentences before adding more complexity.

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