Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-24

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 6.5)

There are growing concerns about whether university students should study other courses or devote all their attention to their main subjects. This essay will discuss both viewpoints before explaining why I believe students should be free to learn about any other subject in which they are interested.

On the one hand, those who support the latter opinion argue that students should give all their time to their choosen subjects, otherwise it will impact their overall grades. For example, many medical students fail in their compulsory subjects because they often develop interests in elective modules and do not able to pay full attention and time on main ones. Another reason is that having entire focus in the compulsory subjects will ultimately help the university students to become an expert in their field. That is to say, universities design the curriculum which includes only subject-related courses, so that students can be able to get the entire knowledge of their field.

Other, on the other hand, argue that students should not be restricted to the main modules, they should be able to learn other subjects. This will provide broader knowledge of elective courses as well. For instance, international students want to learn the foreign language to adapt themselves in the diverse culture of that particular country where they are studying. Similarly, students would be able to choose their long-term career if they study other subjects depending on their interests. Put in other words, some university students accidently take up their main subjects even if they are not interested in, therefore, having a free will to choose elective modules will help them to become clearer in their goals and make better decision for their future.

In my opinion, students should be allowed to learn other subjects in addition to their main subjects because it will help them to choose their career of interest and they are able to make better decisions further. Additionally, they should have a broader knowledge of other subjects which ultimately help them to gain essential skill such as learning a new language.

In conclusion, while restricting to the complusory courses help the university students to get good grades and become an expert in their field, I believe that learning other subjects help the students to have a broader knowledge and help them to choose their career of interest in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both views and state a consistent opinion: students should be free to study subjects beyond their main qualification. The discussion is relevant, with examples such as medical students’ workload and international students learning a local language. This meets the task well, and the clear position and supporting examples show some qualities of a stronger response. However, development is uneven: the claim that elective modules cause medical students to fail is broad and not explained, while the point about students choosing a main subject they dislike could be illustrated more specifically. To strengthen the response further, explain the consequences of each example and connect them more explicitly to the competing views. The length requirement is met; eight words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, your opinion, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “Similarly,” and “In conclusion” help readers identify the stages of the argument. Your position is also repeated clearly in the opinion paragraph and conclusion. Some linking is less natural or precise, however. “Other, on the other hand” is awkward, and “Put in other words” does not accurately introduce the preceding point. The opinion paragraph also repeats ideas already presented in the previous paragraph rather than extending them. Use a wider range of natural transitions and clearer references, and make each paragraph add a distinct step to the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “compulsory subjects,” “elective modules,” “broader knowledge,” and “long-term career.” These choices make the discussion clear, and some topic-specific language helps you compare the two positions. There are also several inaccurate or unnatural choices that limit precision, such as “choosen subjects,” “entire focus,” “accidently take up,” and “make better decision.” Spelling errors in “compulsory” and “chosen” also affect accuracy. Aim for more natural collocations and check word forms and spelling carefully. For example, “focus on their compulsory subjects” is more idiomatic than “having entire focus in the compulsory subjects,” while “make better decisions” requires a plural noun in this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “because,” “otherwise,” and “if,” and most of your meaning remains clear. The sentence beginning “For instance, international students want to learn…” is a straightforward example of a relevant idea, while the longer sentence about students choosing subjects shows an attempt to express a more complex relationship. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “do not able to pay” needs “are not able,” and “students should not be restricted to the main modules, they should…” joins two independent clauses incorrectly. There are also agreement and article problems in “courses…help” and “make better decision.” Practise accurate clause joining, subject–verb agreement, and articles while retaining your varied sentence structures.

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