Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-28

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)

Some university students want to learn about other courses in addition to their main courses. Others think it has more value to give all their time and concentration to studying for a qualification rather then other subjects. It is very important to learn about additional subjects when students got their higher education, after the completion of degree they will help in their future goals.

On the first side, people who say students want to learn more subjects in addition of their main courses they are right on their oppinion because students got theoratical knowledge in their main studies but the practical knowledge is limited in class rooms so thats why they join the other practical classes or courses in which they have interest, this practicle knowledge help then in their respective fields when they are in practicle life. For example When i was in university, my degree was in Agriculture, i gained theoratical knowledge from my main classes but i had also joined many other practicle knowledge courses, such as Farm Monitoring which is very helpful now in my practical life, i have joined the farm as a farm manager and use those practical knowledge in farm mangement.

On the other hand, it is also important to focus on your studies as well, but not more important then the practicle skills, if a person learn regularly in his repective filed knowlege they got significant grades in his batch this quite helpful to get more knowledge significantly but he is limited in his practical knowledge which is useful in his future.

In conclution, to learn other courses with the main subjects is more significant in the students future as compared to learn only the main subjects, practical knowledge will helpful in their professional life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and make your position clear in the introduction and conclusion: you favour learning additional subjects, especially for their practical value. The Agriculture and Farm Monitoring example is relevant and gives personal support to this view. However, the opposing argument is only briefly presented: you say that focusing on a qualification can lead to good grades, but do not explain why this matters or give a supporting example. Some claims are also unclear, such as the suggestion that students gain theoretical knowledge but have limited practical knowledge. Develop both sides more evenly and explain the benefits and possible drawbacks of studying beyond a main subject. The response meets the stated length requirement; eight words copied from the task prompt were excluded from the count.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “On the first side,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because ideas are repeated or connected in unclear ways. For example, the second body paragraph moves from regular study and grades to limited practical knowledge without clearly explaining the relationship. Some references, including “they” and “this,” do not always make the intended meaning clear. Use more precise transitions between claims and examples, and organise each body paragraph around one main point followed by its explanation and evidence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “qualification,” “theoretical knowledge,” “practical knowledge,” and “professional life,” and the farm-management example shows an attempt to use subject-specific language. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, which sometimes makes meaning less clear. Phrases such as “practical knowledge courses,” “in their practical life,” and “learn regularly in your respective field knowledge” are not natural in this context. Spelling errors such as “oppinion,” “theoratical,” and “mangement” also reduce accuracy. Build a wider set of natural academic collocations and check spelling carefully; the suggestions below offer more precise alternatives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses with “because” and “when,” but complex structures are often faulty and errors occur frequently. For example, “students got theoretical knowledge” uses an unsuitable tense, while “this practical knowledge help then” has subject–verb agreement and pronoun errors. The sentence beginning “people who say students want to learn…” is difficult to follow because its clause structure is incomplete or poorly controlled. There are also errors with articles, plurals, and punctuation, as in “in class rooms” and the run-on example sentence beginning “For example When i was in university.” Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a clearly connected supporting clause, then proofread verb forms and agreement.

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