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)

Nowadays, in the university, students prefer to study multiple subjects with their primary subjects. While, some people argue that the studying particular subject is more important than wasting time and efforts on multiple subjects. But, I believe that the students need to focus on multiple subjects and learn basics from each branch of knowledge.

One major reasone is that the students who smart and intelligent they prefer to study multiple courses. It help them to extented their knowledge and provide basic information of different strems. In contrast, some people choose addition subject with their main subject because of the less interest or want to switch their branch. As a result, it also work as a backup plan for students to grap better opportunity in different strem.

However, some people argue that having a focus on sigle stream is more improtant than distracting with multiple subjects. It might be good for people who have proficiency in particular subject. While, I believe that students must choose one subject in which they have better understanding, but they also need to consume different subject knowledge because it helpfull for not feeling leftover in other room. It helps to keep updating themself when market changes. For example, In modern university always guide to study deffrent programming languages. So, students have multiple opportunities after a collage life.

In conclusion, the people believe that university needs to focuse on one subject, while another's are distractiones. I agree that its helpful, but having knowledge of differnet strems always helpful for better undertanding of different innovations and provide multiple opportunities in job market.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state your opinion: you support learning beyond a main subject, while acknowledging that concentrating on one field can suit students with strong proficiency. The examples of studying programming languages and gaining more job opportunities are relevant. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The claim that students who are “smart and intelligent” prefer multiple courses is asserted rather than explained, and the point about choosing extra subjects because of “less interest” or wanting to switch fields is unclear. Your position is present, but it would be stronger if you explained more precisely how broader study benefits students and fairly developed the case for focusing on a qualification. Add specific examples and connect them directly to each view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate discussion of the two views, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “In contrast,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help signal changes in direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because ideas are joined without clear relationships. For example, the first body paragraph moves from students’ intelligence to switching branches and then to a backup plan, without explaining how these points connect. The contrast between your support for broader learning and the claim that students should choose one subject is also not clearly resolved. Use topic sentences that state each paragraph’s main point, then develop it in a logical sequence with clearer references to the ideas already introduced.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “primary subjects,” “proficiency,” “backup plan,” and “market changes.” These choices show an effort to discuss education and employment rather than relying only on very basic terms. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices, collocations, and spelling errors make parts of the response difficult to understand. Examples include “different strems,” “grap better opportunity,” “leftover in other room,” and “multiple subjects” where the intended meaning is not always clear. Some wording is also repetitive, particularly “helpful” and “multiple opportunities.” Build a more precise set of phrases for discussing breadth of study, specialisation, and career prospects, and check spelling and natural word combinations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some longer sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “While,” “because,” and “who,” and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, the range of structures is limited, and attempts at complex sentences are often faulty. For example, “the students who smart and intelligent they prefer” lacks a correctly formed relative clause, while “It help them to extented” has errors in subject–verb agreement and verb form. Other problems include “it also work” and “it helpful,” which omit or misform necessary verbs. Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, as in the opening “While” fragment. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with subordinate clauses, checking subjects, verb forms, articles, and complete sentence structure.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.