Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18
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)
Nobody will purchase a piece of printed newspaper or books in the near future because they will become more accessible to read online. They would read anything free of cost, which is related to their interests.
I agree with this perspective because in the future people will prefer online things rather than physical things. I will explain it with suitable reasons and shall draw a logical conclusion.
Nowadays, everyone have access to mobile phone and on the mobile phone, they can do shopping and purchase anything which they want regarding their interests. So in future, they will prefer to read online books and journals for their knowledge and understand its comprehension with the help of the articles which are prevailing today's on different websites. Moreover, the reason behind this trend is the physical struggle and the too costly books which are currently in the markets.
A prime instance of my cousin who is very fond of reading books and journals living hand to mouth nowadays. He cannot afford these journals physical, therefore he prefer to read online and in the future he would like to enhance this reading to a large extent.
There is a drawback regarding this notion, when everyone would pay attention to the online books, the demand for physical books would be dropped and it will be dangerous situation for our society. Although, a large amount of material is available online but importance of physical books can never be decline.
In a nutshell, though online books will prevailing everywhere but it would be unsuitable for those who are book lovers and want to have physical books.
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 expressing a clear position, but the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the convenience of online access and the cost of physical books, the arguments are not fully extended. For instance, the example of your cousin is personal and lacks the broader analytical depth required for an academic essay. Additionally, the counter-argument is mentioned but not sufficiently integrated into the overall argument to create a balanced discussion. To improve, focus on providing more detailed explanations and examples that reflect global trends rather than individual anecdotes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'A prime instance of my cousin who is...' which is a sentence fragment. Transitions between ideas are sometimes abrupt, and the logical progression is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') to connect your points more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are several instances of awkward collocations, such as 'physical struggle' and 'understand its comprehension'. Some phrasing is repetitive, and the word choice is often simplistic. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to digital media and publishing, and focus on using words in their correct context to avoid unnatural-sounding phrases.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('everyone have access', 'demand... would be dropped'), incorrect verb tenses ('importance... can never be decline'), and missing articles. While the meaning is generally understandable, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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