Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-30

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 5.0)

Nowadays, there is an ongoing debate about whether students should learn some additional subjects or they should focus only on their main subject for a qualification, is the better approach. While some students think that they should add some more subjects, others have opposite opinion. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe that student should pay full attention on major topic.

On the one hand, many university students believe that they should add some subjects in addition because they might be think that their mind become more mature. For example, if a student learning accounting and he thinks I should add a physics subject, as a result I will be able to handle out course questions in exam.

On the other hand, many university students believe that our full attention should be on main subject. Because they know that I they get full comand on thair major subject and they pass the exam it would help them more in future rather than learning too many subjects. For instance, if a student studing engennering at university and he do not add additional subject, finanily his full attention would be on his aim. Furthermore, if you are preparing one main subject you will able to achieve your goal in standard time limit.

In conclusion, although both viewpoints have their own merits, I believe that studding one mani subject is more beneficial approach. Because it has long-term benefits for individuals and society as a whole.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address both views and state a clear preference for concentrating on the main subject, particularly in the introduction and conclusion. However, the discussion is only partial and the supporting ideas are under-developed. The additional-subject argument is difficult to follow: the accounting-and-physics example does not explain how physics would help with accounting exam questions. The case for focusing on a qualification is more relevant, but claims about future benefits and finishing within the standard time are asserted rather than explained. The response also falls four words short of the required 250 words. To strengthen the answer, explain the practical value of studying other fields, develop the consequences of specialisation, and support each point with a clear, relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers identify the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and some links between ideas are unclear. For example, the physics example does not clearly follow from the claim about becoming more mature, while “Because” begins a sentence fragment after the point about focusing on a main subject. The conclusion repeats the position without drawing together the discussion. Build each paragraph around one clear claim, explain it, and then connect a relevant example to that explanation; use linking phrases to show relationships rather than simply mark sections.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the general subject, including “qualification,” “major subject,” “additional subjects,” and “long-term benefits.” However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or misspelled expressions make the writing less clear, such as “handle out course questions,” “full comand,” and “studding one mani subject.” Some phrases are also unnatural, including “add some subjects in addition” and “pay full attention on major topic.” Aim for more precise academic collocations and check spelling and word forms carefully. For instance, describe students as “broaden[ing] their knowledge” or “specialising in their major,” and use “mastery” rather than “full command” if you can apply the phrase accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While” and conditional structures such as “if a student…” and “if you are preparing…”. However, the range is limited, and errors are frequent enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. The opening sentence joins two competing structures awkwardly (“whether … or …, is the better approach”), and the example “if a student learning accounting and he thinks…” lacks a correctly formed verb clause. There are also problems with agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries, as in “Because they know…” and “a student studing engennering … he do not add.” Practise complete clauses, consistent subject–verb agreement, and accurate conditional forms, then proofread punctuation and sentence boundaries.

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