Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-11-05

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)

It is irrefutable that there are many educational subjects that are connected. Some individuals believe that the most important thing is for students to give their full attention and time to studying to qualify. I believe that not only should students focus on their main subject, but they also need to gather some extra knowledge from other subjects.

There are many reasons why some people think students should study their main subject. Employment opportunities are given to those people who are masters in the related subject. Nowadays, in every sector so much competition in the job market. For example, if you have very little knowledge about your main subject, you will not enter this sector of the job. Every country has its own sector of the economy. People who study the main subject, economics, should study economics well; if they don't, the country will suffer. For instance, the government gives money to public university education if the subject is not studied well, its became the wast of this money.

On the other hand, some people think that university students should learn about additional subjects with their main subject. One of the reasons behind this is that there are many subjects connected, like mathematics, English, and so on. As for example, economics is connected with mathematics, and plant biology is connected to forestry. I personally agree with the former view, as some people say university students focus on their main subject. which lead you to a position which you never can imagine.

In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that university students' attention and time should be given to their main subject. They will be the next leader of countries with subject knowledge; they can do whatever they want.

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You present a clear preference for students to gain knowledge beyond their main subject in the introduction, but later say, “I personally agree with the former view,” and conclude that students should give their time to their main subject. This contradiction makes your position difficult to follow. Both perspectives are mentioned, yet the case for studying additional subjects is supported mainly by brief examples of links between disciplines, while the argument for specialisation relies on broad claims about employment and national economies. Develop each view with a specific explanation or example, and state one consistent opinion throughout. The response therefore addresses the topic only partially, with ideas that remain limited and under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

Your response has an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion, so the reader can identify its broad structure. However, the progression within paragraphs is not always clear. In the second paragraph, the move from job competition to a country’s economy and public university funding is abrupt, and the example about wasted money is difficult to connect to the main claim. The phrase “On the other hand” signals a contrast, but the final sentence of that paragraph then returns to the opposing view, weakening the overall progression. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each example explicitly to its point, and ensure the conclusion follows the position established earlier.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “employment opportunities,” “job market,” “qualification,” and “additional subjects,” and expressions such as “connected” help communicate the central idea. However, the range is limited and several choices or forms are inaccurate, which sometimes makes meaning less clear. For example, “masters in the related subject” is not a natural way to describe expertise, and “the wast of this money” contains a spelling error and an awkward phrase. Repetition of “subject,” “study,” and “main subject” also limits flexibility. Build a wider set of accurate collocations for discussing specialisation, transferable skills, and interdisciplinary learning, and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer structures, including “not only should students focus on their main subject, but they also need to gather some extra knowledge,” and use conditional forms such as “if you have very little knowledge.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. For example, “Nowadays, in every sector so much competition in the job market” lacks a main verb, while “if the subject is not studied well, its became” has faulty clause structure and verb form. The sentence beginning “I personally agree…” is also joined unclearly to the following fragment, “which lead you…”. Practise complete clauses, consistent verb forms, and punctuation between sentences.

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