Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-29

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 argued among people that weather students should only study their main subjects to achieve a definite qualification or should they also know about other subjects in addition to this.

In my opinion, students should have a vast knowledge about various topics and they should study additional books along with their main curriculum.

It is seen that most students are pressurised by their parents to focus on their study materials. Sometimes due to pressure of long syllabus, students don't have the time to learn about other topics which are not relevant to their subject. Thought it is privotal to focus on one main topic, it is also considered an extra qualification to know about vast majority of topics. It will not only make them intelligent but, also will help them to view the world in different perspectives.

For example, if a doctor has only medical knowledge, he would not become very successful in his career because he will have to deal with patients from different background and culture. With the knowledge of sociology and history he can be more comfortable working. He can know about culture of different countries through books which will help him practice abroad. He needs to be knowlegable about communication as well, which again can be learned through variety of books available on this topic.

To conclude, I would like to say that a student needs to study his main subjects to pass and build his creer but studying other topics will help him in the long run of life. It will enable his to tackle difficult situations with success. It will make him aware of the situation and circumstances surrounding him.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear opinion in the introduction, supporting students’ wider learning, and the conclusion recognises that their main subjects remain necessary for qualifications. The doctor example is relevant and helps explain how knowledge of culture and communication can be useful professionally. However, the discussion is weighted heavily towards the benefits of studying other subjects: the opposing view is mentioned through parental pressure and a long syllabus, but its strongest rationale—such as the need for specialist expertise or limited study time—is not fully explained. Some claims, including that broader knowledge makes students “intelligent,” also need clearer reasoning. Develop both perspectives more evenly and connect each example directly to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph explaining the benefits of broader study, a supporting example, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress from the main claim to a practical illustration, and linking phrases such as “For example” and “To conclude” help signal the stages. Cohesion is sometimes mechanical, however, and the second paragraph combines the opposing view with your own argument without a clear transition. References such as “this” and “it” can also be vague. Use separate, clearly focused paragraphs for each view, and make links between claims and examples explicit so the progression is easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “qualification,” “curriculum,” “perspectives,” and “communication,” and the doctor example shows an attempt to discuss professional contexts. The range is adequate for conveying your main ideas, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “vast majority of topics” where you mean broad knowledge, and “long run of life.” Spelling errors such as “privotal,” “knowlegable,” and “creer” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than repeating general terms such as “topics” and “books.” Proofreading spelling and checking collocations would make your meaning more fluent and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a conditional example: “if a doctor has only medical knowledge, he would not become very successful.” This shows some range, and the overall meaning is usually understandable. However, errors occur in sentence construction and grammatical patterns. For instance, “weather students should only study … or should they also know” is not a well-formed indirect question, and “He needs to be knowlegable” uses an incorrect structure. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and punctuation, as in “from different background and culture” and “not only make them intelligent but, also.” Practise accurate question framing, parallel structures, and article and plural use while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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