Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-12
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In the future nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The Modern technologies, social media and eBooks have recently replaced buying printed newspaper or books as people prefer using their phones and laptops more convenient for reading rather than keeping physical copies. Even though, I believe, many people prefer physical presence of newspaper or books, getting them online will somehow replace it.
The digital media has made everyone's life very convenient as people can access to everything that is happening in the world before it gets printed onto newspaper. Also, the new trend of this generation of reading eBooks on their laptops and iPad is slowly replacing the physical books as they do not have to purchase them and they find it hassle free.
Conversely, printed newspaper and books have always played an important role from our starting generations, and even today, the elderly people who are not familiar with the online world find newspaper and books as a source of their knowledge. Even though, some humans won't be satisfied with getting everything online as there will be an absence of reading, concentration and signs of distraction, Majority of humans will neglect buying printed newspaper or books.
In conclusion, there are both positive and negative consequences of people that will prefer getting information online rather than buying printed newspaper or books, the negative side explains that a touch of physical presence will be lost and there can be signs of misleading information if everything will completely depend digitally. Meanwhile, the brighter side reflects that they will not have to pay for papers which is a good sign for our environment and also we can receive everything hassle free on our devices itself.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the shift toward digital media and the potential decline of printed materials. However, the position is somewhat inconsistent. While you acknowledge that people prefer physical copies, you conclude that the majority will eventually neglect printed media. The development is uneven; the second paragraph provides good reasons for the digital shift, but the third paragraph regarding the elderly and the disadvantages of digital reading is less well-integrated into a clear argument. To improve, ensure your position is clearly stated in the introduction and consistently supported throughout each body paragraph without introducing contradictory points that weaken your stance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a central theme. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward. For example, 'Even though, I believe...' and 'Even though, some humans...' are used in ways that disrupt the flow. The transition between the idea of the elderly and the distraction of digital media in the third paragraph is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'nonetheless') and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'it', 'they') clearly points back to the intended noun.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'digital media', 'eBooks', and 'physical copies'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'physical presence of newspaper' (should be 'physical versions') and 'starting generations' (should be 'previous generations'). There is also some repetition of phrases like 'printed newspaper or books'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader. Common issues include article usage ('the Modern technologies'), subject-verb agreement ('the elderly people... find newspaper'), and awkward phrasing ('people can access to everything'). Some sentences are also run-on or lack necessary punctuation. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles or incorrect prepositions. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help elevate your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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