Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-25

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 6.0)

The advancement in technology has led some people to think that in the future, everyone will prefer to read free newspapers and books online. I completely disagree with this opinion because people already spend a lot of their time on social media platforms that can divert their focus while reading online; also mostly people prefer to experience reading in printed format because it is more beneficial.

First of all, I believe that people mostly spend most of their time on social platforms for entertainment rather than reading. When people use smartphones for study purposes, their focus is significantly affected by social media notifications, which directly divert their focus from reading books or newspapers. For instance, a study report by the UN from 2025 found that technology has harmed study by more than 60% in the last three years. However, in the future it will have by far a much higher adverse effect on those who prefer to study online.

Secondly, more individuals lean towards buying printed newspapers and books instead of ebooks. Handbooks foster a more open and engaging experience while learning anything. For example, a handbook creates a sensory connection more effectively when touching paper and significantly rise knowledge gaining power. Furthermore, those who are keen to learn in a book and physical format do not care about paying for it because they prioritise the learning experience over money.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that learning through handbooks is more beneficial compared to ebooks to avoid any distraction from social media sites. Subsequently, people who study books succeed in achieving their desired knowledge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have clearly stated your position and maintained it throughout the essay. You addressed both parts of the prompt: the future of printed media and the aspect of cost. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'sensory connection' is a good point, but it could have been explained with more depth. Additionally, the claim that people do not care about paying for books is a broad generalization that could be nuanced further. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more logically connected to the main argument and avoid over-generalizing consumer behavior.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the discussion of social media distractions and the conclusion is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, but ensure that pronouns consistently refer back to the intended nouns to avoid any ambiguity in your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'advancement', 'significantly affected', and 'prioritise'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'rise knowledge gaining power' is not a natural English expression, and 'handbooks' is often used to refer to manuals rather than books in general. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. You have a sufficient range to convey your meaning, but more sophisticated lexical choices would elevate the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'mostly people prefer' should be 'most people prefer', and 'it will have by far a much higher adverse effect' is slightly awkward. There are also minor issues with article usage and word order. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining your complex sentence structures to ensure greater accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.