Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-04

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 that some university student prefer to study more subject alongside with their main course. While other argued that students should give their full attention to their main course subjects. In my opinion students should focus on their main subjects because its help them to achieve better academic result and develop and better understanding of their subjects.

Firstly, students should concentrate on their main subjects which helps them to achieve better academic results and increase their overall performance which will help them to achieve their career goals. Futhermore, focusing on their main subjects will help them to have a deeper understanding and practical knowledge of that subject. For example, marketing students need to develop a better understanding to marketing strategies and consumer behaviour if they focus on their main subject they can apply marketing theories into their marketing strategy to acheive their goals.

On the other hand, when students take more subjects alongside their main subjects may have greater academic pressure due to that they won't be able to manage their main subject as well as their other subjects. For instance, students studying business and take additional subject of computer managing both subjects can increase their academic workload. As the result, their academic performance may suffer and have negative impact on their examination result.

In conclusion, students with their main course can have overall better academic performance and in depth knowledge of those subject which help them to perform better in examination. Where extra subject creater more academic pressure on students. As the result, they may suffer in their overall academic performance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear opinion that students should prioritise their main subjects, and you explain this through academic performance, deeper understanding and career goals. The marketing example also helps illustrate your reasoning. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the argument for studying additional subjects is not really explained: the second body paragraph focuses on the pressure and risks of taking extra subjects rather than why students may value them, such as gaining broader knowledge or complementary skills. Your conclusion repeats your position but does not add much development. To strengthen the response, explain the benefits of both choices before weighing them, and support each main point with a specific example or fuller explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The main-subject argument comes first, followed by the concern about extra workload, and linking phrases such as “Firstly,” “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” make the stages easy to follow. However, the contrast is not fully balanced because the second body paragraph presents mainly a disadvantage of additional study, rather than developing the opposing view. Some connections are also mechanical or unclear, particularly “As the result” and the final sentence beginning “Where extra subject…”. Use transitions that show the precise relationship between ideas, and make sure each paragraph develops one complete line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “academic performance,” “deeper understanding,” “practical knowledge,” “consumer behaviour” and “academic workload.” These choices communicate the central ideas, and some topic-specific language helps make the marketing example concrete. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “main subjects,” “academic” and “achieve,” while several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “understanding to marketing strategies,” “computer managing” and “creater more academic pressure.” There are also spelling errors, including “Futhermore” and “acheive.” Build a wider set of natural phrases for discussing breadth of study and workload, and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “main subjects which helps them…” and a conditional structure in “if they focus on their main subject…”. The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors occur frequently and some sentences are difficult to follow. For example, “some university student prefer” has a number and agreement problem, while “students studying business and take additional subject…” is not a complete, well-formed construction. The opening also shifts between singular and plural forms, and “because its help them” contains an incorrect subject form and verb agreement. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, articles and plurals, and rewrite longer sentences as clear clauses before adding complexity.

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