Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-16
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)
Newspapers are a form of getting information about something happened in the country or global issues. It is argued that because of online availability of books without any cost the number of newspaper and book buyers will decrease. I strongly disagree with this idea that online books can replace the printed books or newspapers. This essay will discuss both points and my opinion as well in the following paragraphs.
The books are considered a friend of a person and those who actually love them will not replace them no matter what. The online availabililty of books will not cause the printed copies to be sold less. For instance, the friends of mine who love to collect books and are really fond of reading from a paperback version are more likely to just not get attached to the online books as they do not get the feel of a book nor smell like one. Hence, the online books without any cost will not be a problem in my opinion.
The books online are really helpfull for those who have no money or resources to purchase the real printed paperback versions. This helps the readers in getting the books or newspapers that are mostly costly and can be difficult to purchase. For instance, the people who go barely hand to mouth in their daily life and need or want to read a book or newspaper then this really helps them out and allows them to read anywhere they would like. Hence, the advantages of online books can not be ignored as well.
In conclusion, the book lovers will always find a way to get their hands on the physical copies of books if they can afford it and only those who cannot have a source of income will prefer an online book or newspaper. So, my opinion is the online books or newspapers cannnot replace the hard copies of books as people are admirers of hard copies.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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 taking a clear position against the idea that printed media will disappear. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention the emotional attachment to physical books, the argument regarding online availability is repetitive. The essay states it will discuss 'both points' in the introduction, but the second body paragraph focuses on the benefits of online books rather than directly addressing the prompt's premise about the decline of printed media. To improve, ensure each paragraph directly supports your central thesis and provides more nuanced reasoning beyond personal preference or financial necessity.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'Hence', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and the progression of ideas within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the transition between the emotional value of books and the financial accessibility of online versions is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be better connected to improve the overall flow of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'getting information', 'no money', and 'really helpfull'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'something happened in the country' (which should be 'events occurring') and 'go barely hand to mouth' (which is an idiom used slightly incorrectly in this context). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to the publishing industry or digital trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'online availabililty' (spelling), 'the books online are really helpfull' (redundant article), and 'the online books or newspapers cannnot replace' (spelling). Additionally, some phrasing is awkward, such as 'a form of getting information about something happened'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and proofreading for minor spelling errors. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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