Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-02

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 now very common in universities to teach students additional subjects that are different from their actual qualification. It is often believed that some students want to pay attention on their main subjects and others feel they should also learn minor subjects in addition to their main subjects. Although both views have their own merits, I personally belive that giving attention to other subjects is also crucial because it teaches us to learn about other things that are important for practical life.

Firstly, the main reason why undergraduates only want to learn the main subjects is that, in their previous educational career they only learn about the things that are mendatory to pass the examination and to get high scores. When they go to university they feel burdon for learning extra subjects. Secondly, they feel that learning subjects that are not needed for their career is a waste of time and for someone who has enrolled himself in a specific field should give his quality time to the subject he is interested in.

To begin with other students perspective, they want to learn about different things. Because they do not want to stuck in particular subject that leads to booring student life. Furthurmore, they find it helpful for learning new skills and get attached to other fields. Sometimes after graduation, they do not find the job that is related to their specific field so they want to learn other subjects so that they can get other jobs also.

In conclusion, students should know the career paths and learn about skills that are mendatory to get a job after graduation. So, they should pay attention to other fields also.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both perspectives and state your own view: the introduction supports learning additional subjects, and the conclusion recommends attention to other fields. The reasons are relevant, including concern that extra study may take time from a chosen qualification and the possibility of gaining skills for alternative employment. However, the discussion is uneven: the first view receives two reasons, while the benefits of broader study are only briefly explained. The claim that students may avoid a “booring student life” is not clearly connected to the value of studying other subjects, and examples remain general rather than illustrating the argument. Develop each side more fully and explain how your examples support your position to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “To begin with,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main stages. However, some connections feel mechanical, and the opening of the third paragraph, “To begin with other students perspective,” is awkward and does not clearly signal the contrast with the previous paragraph. The sentence beginning “Because they do not want…” is also left as a fragment, weakening the flow between ideas. Use a clearer contrast marker, link reasons more explicitly, and ensure each paragraph develops one connected line of thought.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “qualification,” “undergraduates,” “specific field,” and “career paths,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “subjects,” “learn,” and “main,” while several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “pay attention on,” “feel burdon,” and “get attached to other fields.” Spelling errors including “belive,” “mendatory,” “booring,” and “Furthurmore” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise academic phrasing and check spelling carefully; for example, describe students as “devoting time to” a subject and gaining “exposure to” other disciplines.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “Although both views have their own merits” and a reason clause beginning “because.” The main ideas can usually be understood, but errors occur in sentence construction and verb forms. For example, “Because they do not want to stuck” needs a complete construction such as “because they do not want to be stuck,” while “they only learn” would be more consistent as “they only learned” when referring to previous education. The sentence beginning “For someone who has enrolled himself…” is also awkwardly attached to the preceding idea, and “students should know the career paths” has an unclear article choice. Practise accurate complex sentences and review tense, articles, and sentence boundaries.

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