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)
It is undoubtly true that in the near future, people will opt for reading everything on internet when they can get it for free, rather than purchasing newspapers or books in a physical form. This essay will discuss both point of views before explaining why I strong agree with it.
On the one hand, we all know that how costly it could be if someone is a bookworm or just love reading books. Reading material in printed and in physical form occupies a tonnes of space, whereas on internet one can access large amount of reading material upto terabytes of data without paying a single penny. You can take my example, I have around 80 plus books in my cloud storage. In Addition, considering the inflation of these days and upcoming time, it is not wise to waste money of something whennyou can avail it for free. Futhermore, many countries are becoming paperless to be eco-friendly. For instance, It has been aired on BBC News that roughly 96% population of Finland read newpapers or books via internet.
On the other hand, It is questioned that will people stop purchasing readiable materials in printed form when it is easily available online? some people still argue that a certain number of individuals would still buy printed newspapers or books. Due to the fact, many of us get attched to things physically. If anyone is going to buy printed newspapers or books in the future, then they would be paying a hefty amount for that. Because that would be considered rare. For instance, comic books are now only available on internet but those who want it printed have to pay nearly the double amount including paper tax.
In conclusion, while acknowlwdging the fact that nobody will be buying newspapers or books in printed form, I firmly believe that this is true beacuse we as humans are getting more environmental friendly.
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 and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat inconsistent. While the argument regarding cost and space is well-supported, the counter-argument in the third paragraph is slightly contradictory, as it suggests people will still buy printed books despite the essay's initial stance that nobody will. The conclusion also feels a bit rushed and slightly repetitive. To reach a higher band, ensure that all supporting points directly reinforce your central thesis without introducing conflicting information that undermines your main argument. The ideas are relevant, but the depth of analysis could be improved by exploring the cultural or educational implications of a digital-only future.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the phrase 'Due to the fact' used as a sentence starter, which is grammatically incorrect in this context. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the paragraphs could be smoother to create a more cohesive flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal structure of the sentences sometimes lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are attempts to use less common items like 'terabytes', 'eco-friendly', and 'hefty amount'. However, there are several spelling errors ('undoubtly', 'acknowlwdging', 'readiable', 'attched') and some awkward collocations, such as 'it has been aired on BBC News'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the score. To improve, focus on accuracy in spelling and ensure that words are used in their correct collocations. Expanding the range of academic vocabulary beyond basic descriptors would also help elevate the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'we all know that how costly it could be', 'tonnes of space', and 'waste money of something'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage and capitalisation after full stops. The sentence structures are functional but lack the variety and error-free control required for higher bands. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Proofreading for basic errors like 'whennyou' (when you) would also significantly improve the overall quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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