Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-19
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)
In the modern era, the topic of whether printed newspapers and books will disappear in the future because people will read everything online for free is widely discussed across the world. There are various opinions surrounding this issue, and it brings both economic challenges and social benefits to our society.
To begin with, there are several key reasons why people hold this perspective and prefer this approach. The primary factor behind this trend is that digital libraries, e-readers, and online platforms are making all types of reading materials easily accessible and free of cost, which directly impacts daily life. For example, students and modern readers now strongly prefer downloading PDF e-books and reading breaking news on free internet websites instead of purchasing physical items or paying high subscription fees, so that individuals do not face unexpected difficulties in their routines or financial burdens.
Furthermore, we must also consider the overall impact of this situation. Another major aspect to look at is that the rapid advancement of technology, smartphones, and high-speed internet ensures that traditional print media will completely phase out as everything shifts to digital formats, beneficial for long-term stability and environmental conservation. Therefore, we should carefully manage these aspects and take proper steps to ensure a better future for everyone.Therefore, proactive planning and continuous adaptation are essential to handle this digital transformation successfully.Ultimately, a balanced transition towards digital media will pave the way for a more sustainable, knowledge-driven global community.By embracing digital platforms, society can significantly reduce paper waste and protect natural forests from excessive logging
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. However, the position is not clearly defined; while you mention the trend, you do not explicitly state the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim that nobody will buy printed materials. The ideas are relevant but remain somewhat general. To improve, you should take a clear stance in the introduction and ensure each body paragraph directly supports that position with more specific, nuanced arguments rather than just describing the trend. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and lacks a final synthesis of your viewpoint.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Furthermore' effectively. However, there are issues with punctuation and spacing, such as the missing spaces after periods in the final paragraph (e.g., 'everyone.Therefore', 'successfully.Ultimately'). This makes the text look cluttered and affects the flow. Improving the mechanical aspects of your writing and ensuring that cohesive devices are used to link sentences more smoothly will help elevate your score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'environmental conservation', 'proactive planning', and 'digital transformation'. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, and there is a lack of more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would demonstrate a higher level of control. Some word choices are functional but basic. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and academic synonyms to express your ideas with greater nuance and variety.
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 some grammatical slips and punctuation errors, particularly the lack of spacing after full stops in the final paragraph. Additionally, some sentences are slightly clunky, such as '...digital formats, beneficial for long-term stability'. A more grammatically sound structure would be '...digital formats, which is beneficial for long-term stability'. Focusing on sentence variety and ensuring consistent punctuation will improve your accuracy and overall grammatical control.
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