Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-24
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 ongoing debate that in the future nobody will purchase physical magazines or books because they will have access to e-books and digital newspapers which they can be read online without paying. Further, i will elaborate my points with suitable examples.
In the meantime, People may prefer digital newspaper and books rather than physical. This can help consumer to carry as many they want and with that they can access this from any place or time. For instance, A person who wants to carry more e-books may have access via smartphones, laptops and kindles. This may lead to more handy items rather than carrying bulky books or articles.
Moreover, this can benefit environment by using more digital products like books, article, magazine. There may be reduction of cutting of trees, which can be beneficial for the environment. For example, Government should take initiative to promote more eco-friendly products and services. This may lead to more sustainable environment.
On the other hand, people can face difficulties while reading books online. This may lead to eye strain, redness and pain due to more brightness. For example, A Person who have a spectacle may face more difficulties to read books online. This will cause problem which can lead to eye infection or constant increasing in a person's eye number.
In conclusion, I want it to be balance approach. This will help environment to reduce trees, whereas we cannot ignore that it can harm our eyes by putting constant pressure on it .
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 to digital media and the potential for free access. However, the position is not fully developed. While you mention the benefits of digital media and the drawbacks of eye strain, you do not clearly state your extent of agreement or disagreement in the introduction, which is a requirement for a higher band. The conclusion suggests a 'balanced approach' but does not explicitly answer the 'to what extent' question. To improve, ensure your stance is clear from the beginning and maintained throughout the essay, and provide more depth to your arguments rather than listing them briefly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' to transition between ideas. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'This will cause problem'). To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that pronouns and referencing clearly point back to the intended nouns to improve the overall flow and logical progression of your ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You rely on simple terms like 'handy items' and 'eye number'. There are also some collocation errors, such as 'reduction of cutting of trees' and 'take initiative to promote'. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'digital transformation', 'environmental sustainability', or 'ocular fatigue'. Expanding your range of collocations and using more precise terminology will significantly enhance your lexical score.
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 'It is ongoing debate', 'People may prefer digital newspaper and books rather than physical', and 'A Person who have a spectacle'. These errors involve article usage, pluralization, and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with articles and subject-verb agreement, to improve your control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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