Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-21

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)

There is an argument among pupils about focusing on the main subject only while others think that learning extra subjects may help them in future career. To some extent, I agree with the students having view about focused qualification learning in the universities. In my opinion, taking admission into a specific qualification would help you to direct your focus towards specific learning path and as a result it would help you in future through focused research and studies. For example, a student who wants to become a cybersecurity expert, must be admitted into a Cyber Security programme rather than in Computer Science programme.

On the one hand, people who wants to learn some extra similar subjects too, have not yet decided about the future career and therefore they are exploring other related subjects to find their passion and interests. Meanwhile, they get extra knowledge of other domains too and that would be beneficial to them to some extent but it would take time to get focused on their interested domain. However, learners who are focused about their specialization, tend to invest their skills on specific domain from the very start of their studies. They know about their future objectives and hence followed the specific learning roadmap to achieve their desired goals. Additionally, a comprehensive survey shows that the learners who knows their research career goals at the beginning of their studies, have more probability of getting success than those who follow the blind career paths.

In the conclusion for the above discussion, I must say that before starting your high school degree, you should know about your future career profession and the research area that would help you straighten your learning map and ultimately led to a profession you once thought to achieve.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear preference for concentrating on a qualification, and you offer a relevant example involving a student aiming to become a cybersecurity expert. You also explain why some students explore related subjects, mentioning that this can help them discover their interests and gain broader knowledge. However, the discussion is uneven: the case for studying additional subjects is brief, while most of the response argues for specialisation. The example comparing cybersecurity with computer science is asserted rather than explained, and the claim about a “comprehensive survey” is unsupported. The conclusion introduces advice about deciding before high school, which does not fully follow from the university-focused question. Develop both views more evenly and support claims with specific reasoning or examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening position, a paragraph beginning “On the one hand,” and a concluding paragraph. Linking expressions such as “Meanwhile,” “However,” and “Additionally” help signal relationships between ideas. However, the progression is not always clear: the first paragraph presents your opinion before the opposing view is developed, and the main body shifts between exploration, specialisation, and research goals without a fully controlled sequence. Some transitions are mechanical, and “On the one hand” is not balanced by a corresponding “On the other hand.” The conclusion also moves to high school, creating a slight break in focus. Organise the essay around one paragraph for each view, then state and reinforce your judgement in the conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic-related vocabulary, including “qualification,” “specialization,” “research,” “domain,” and “career goals.” These choices make the subject clear, and phrases such as “learning roadmap” show an attempt to express ideas beyond basic vocabulary. Some less natural combinations and imprecise choices limit the overall control: “focused qualification learning,” “direct your focus towards specific learning path,” and “straighten your learning map” do not sound idiomatic in this context. “Extra similar subjects” is also unclear, while “probability of getting success” is an awkward collocation. Aim for precise academic phrasing and check how words naturally combine; for example, use “broaden their knowledge,” “choose a specialisation,” and “increase their chances of success.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “while,” “because”-like reasoning through “therefore,” and relative clauses such as “who wants to become a cybersecurity expert.” Meaning is generally understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles, and verb forms remain. For example, “people who wants” should be “people who want,” and “the learners who knows” should be “the learners who know.” In “rather than in Computer Science programme,” the article is missing, and “ultimately led to a profession” should use a form consistent with the future meaning, such as “lead.” The sentence beginning “Additionally, a comprehensive survey shows…” is also overloaded and difficult to follow. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and divide long sentences when their relationships become unclear.

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