Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-25

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)

Nowadays, university students learn other subjects beside their main course.While, some believe that give more time and attention to your main course for qualification.Although specialization is important for academic but learn other courses will help in the future.In my opnion, you should learn other course along with your main subject.

on the one hand, primarly concentrates on your degree will give you good grade and will help you to acquire a job but will not help in your pratical life.There are some course which taught you about the ethics,your development etc.In the previous semster , i have a course called ob ib which they teach us about the ethics in the organization,what stragies you apply.After studying this , i gone to an interview and they asked me about these thing in it.

on the other hand, Study other subjects will broaden your mind, will help you think out the box, develop your anayltical skills.Sharpen your brain,you may focus more the thing which are crucial for you.like a computer science student have to interact with the customer to tell about the products, in these type of situation it helps.

from my prespective, student should learn other subjects along their main course which may help them in the future.like when you get struck in a desert you know noone but a moment hit you.what you study in that specific course which help you to get out of it .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You present a clear opinion in the introduction and conclusion: students should study subjects beyond their main course. You also attempt to discuss both views, mentioning that focusing on a degree can support good grades and employment, while other courses can build practical and analytical skills. However, the first view is only briefly explained, and several examples are unclear or insufficiently developed, particularly the desert scenario. The response therefore addresses the task only partially, with ideas that remain limited rather than fully supported. The response is also 13 words below the required minimum, which restricts the space available to explain and illustrate your points. Develop each side with a specific, clearly explained example and make your position consistent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “on the one hand” and “on the other hand,” and a concluding opinion. This helps readers identify the main stages of your argument. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven, and some connections are difficult to follow. For example, the shift from the ethics course and interview to the claim about practical life needs clearer explanation. The final desert example is also not linked clearly to the argument. Linking phrases are sometimes mechanical, and punctuation and spacing make ideas run together. Use one main point per paragraph, explain how each example supports it, and add clear transitions between claims and evidence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “qualification,” “specialization,” “ethics,” and “analytical skills,” and phrases such as “broaden your mind” show an attempt to express ideas beyond basic statements. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “think out the box,” “focus more the thing,” and “get struck in a desert.” Spelling errors, including “opnion,” “pratical,” and “anayltical,” are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause. Aim for accurate, natural combinations such as “think outside the box,” “focus on important issues,” and “be stranded in a desert.” Proofreading spelling and choosing precise expressions will make your meaning easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex structures, including “Although specialization is important …” and sentences using “which,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur frequently in sentence formation, verb forms, articles, and agreement. For example, “some believe that give more time” lacks a correctly formed clause, while “i gone to an interview” uses an incorrect verb form. The sentence beginning “There are some course which taught you” also has problems with plural agreement and tense. Several sentences are fragments or run together, such as “Sharpen your brain,” and punctuation and capitalisation are not consistently controlled. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check tense and agreement, especially when describing past experiences.

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