Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-27

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)

It is often argued by some people that several universities students should study the additional subjects besides of their main subjects.While,other schools of thought still claims that it is significant to concentrate on their main qualification.This essay will examine both viewpoints before presenting my own opinion.

On the one hand, poponents of learning other subjects instead of main focus still claims that it has several benefits to learning other subjects.The main reason is that it helps students to get more job opportunities. In today's competitive world,companies prefer employee with diverse skills.For example,a computer science student who also knows about the bussiness or markting,have the better chance to get a brilliant job.Hence, this crucial element express one side of the arguments.

On the other hand, advocates of second view argue that learners should focus on their main qualification subjects.The main reason is that the main subject of their degree also give the tough competition to the students and also demands a significant proportion of time.If students try to learn other subjects,they might not able to get goog grades in their main subjects. For instance,a medical student has to study for long hours a day.If he also start learning other unrelated subjects,he may fail in his main exams.Therefore,focusing only on main subjests is necessary to become an expert.Thus, this determinant clearly elaborates the other side of argument.

From my perspective,I support the idea of learning but with a balance.I believe that students must focus on their main subjects because getting expertise in one field is more important than having a little knowledge of many fields.

In conclusion,although people have different opinion regarding the above given statement,I completely favored the second view because i believe that focusing on their main subject give you more recognization than learning others subjects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a personal position, so the response is relevant to the task. The first body paragraph explains that additional subjects may improve employment prospects, with the example of a computer science student learning business or marketing. The second gives a relevant counterexample involving a medical student’s workload. However, the discussion is uneven: the benefits of broader study are explained more concretely than the case for focusing on a qualification, and your opinion is not fully consistent. You say you support learning “with a balance,” but conclude that you “completely favored the second view.” Clarify whether you favour balanced study or exclusive focus, then explain the reasons and implications of that position more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two paragraphs presenting opposing views, your opinion, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. However, some connections feel mechanical or repetitive, particularly “This crucial element express one side of the arguments” and “this determinant clearly elaborates the other side.” These sentences do not add a clear link between the examples and the main claims. The opinion paragraph also sits somewhat separately from the conclusion, which changes the stated position. Use more direct transitions that show how each example supports its point, and make the final paragraph reinforce the same position established earlier.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to education and employment, including “diverse skills,” “competitive world,” “qualification,” and “expertise.” These choices show an attempt to discuss the topic beyond basic terms. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “main subjects” and “other subjects,” while several inaccurate word choices or collocations make parts less natural, such as “brilliant job,” “tough competition to the students,” and “more recognization.” Spelling errors, including “poponents,” “bussiness,” “markting,” and “subjests,” are also noticeable. Aim for more precise academic phrasing and check spelling carefully; for example, describe employment prospects as “improved career opportunities” and say a degree “requires a substantial time commitment.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If students try to learn other subjects, they might not able to get…” and a relative clause in “a computer science student who also knows…”. These attempts help communicate cause and effect, but some sentence forms are faulty, and agreement and verb forms are inconsistent. For example, “schools of thought still claims” should use a plural verb, while “a medical student… If he also start” needs a matching verb form. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “a significant proportion” and the run-together opening “subjects.While”. These errors do not prevent the main ideas from being understood, but proofreading and practising accurate conditional and agreement patterns would improve control.

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