Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-26
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 future nobody will purchase printed newspapers or books because they will be able to get information through the internet without paying. From my perspective, I agree with this statement. In this essay, we will discuss the advancement in technology over the past few years.
Over the past few years, technology has been advanced and people are more likely to depend on the social media and trends. Due to a lot of social media exposure, people are now updated by every news from different parts of the world through the internet. For example, YouTube is the most used platform nowadays and content related to every aspect is easily available. Another significant factor is that smartphones are easily accessible nowadays. People can easily download any novel from mobile application and read it through their screens instead or purchasing one. Similarly, listening news on the internet and reading articles are more convenient for citizens rather than buying newspapers.
Moreover, there are some other benefits of reading everything online includes that it saves money and time. Adults could easily get updated by the news, at any time, through the social media without paying for newspapers. It is more flexible way of getting knowledge and information as it allows us to explore variety of books without getting one. For example, is someone is interested in human psychic, he could easily explore variety of research and articles related to human psychology, on the other hand, purchasing different books might be not practical.
In conclusion, people should enhance their skills and knowledge by using social media in a beneficial way. It helps us in every aspect of our lives and becoming a better version of ourselves.
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 taking a clear position in favor of the statement. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the convenience of smartphones and the cost-saving aspect of online content, the argument lacks depth regarding the 'nobody will buy' aspect. The essay focuses heavily on the benefits of digital media rather than critically evaluating the future of physical media. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced arguments, perhaps acknowledging why some people might still prefer physical books or newspapers, thereby creating a more balanced and comprehensive discussion.
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 such as 'Similarly', 'Moreover', and 'For example' to link your points. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'reading everything online includes that it saves money'. The conclusion is somewhat disconnected from the main argument, as it shifts focus to 'enhancing skills' rather than summarizing the future of printed media. Improving the variety and natural flow of linking words would enhance the coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'advancement', 'accessible', and 'practical'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'listening news' (instead of 'listening to the news'), 'human psychic' (instead of 'human psychology'), and 'getting one' (which is vague). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more specific academic terminology related to the topic of digital versus traditional media.
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 'technology has been advanced' (should be 'has advanced'), 'updated by every news' (should be 'updated with all the news'), and 'purchasing different books might be not practical' (should be 'might not be practical'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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