Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-28
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 argued by many that people will stop reading printed newspapers and physical books in the future since the majority of resources is going to be free of charge on the internet. As far as I am concerned, I feel that almost everyone will utilize electronic books and plateforms to read. By contrast, this will not be free.
On one hand, it is obvious that more individuals are choosing to read electronic books rather than going to libraries. For instance, a researcher who needs many references to complete his thesis will prefer to look for them easily on the internet instead of brining them from a library. Furthermore, some books are not available locally making readers crossing longer distance to find them. This effort and energy can be saved by only some click on a laptop to download every book or paper. Hence, there are more positive points in reading online, the reason why more people are opting to do so.
On the other hand, the relevant, trusted and verified informations on the internet is difficult to access to. To read magazines, journals and newspapers with higher quality, one should subscribe with them, sometimes with expensive subscriptions. For example, Amazon contains various books about a large range of subjects, science, literature and many others, but to download one, you have to buy it using a credit card. Consequently, what is free on he internet is mostly not worth reading.
In conclusion, even though there are a great deal of useful websites and books online, better and secure materials are expensive and one should subscribe with a more or less amount of money to have access.
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 both parts of the prompt: the future of printed media and the issue of cost. You clearly state your position that while digital platforms will dominate, they will not be free. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'trusted information' is a strong point, but it could have been expanded with more specific examples of how paywalls or subscription models function in the modern publishing industry. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph provides a deeper analysis of the 'why' behind your claims rather than just stating them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use transition signals such as 'On one hand', 'By contrast', and 'Consequently' to guide the reader. However, some cohesive devices are used mechanically or slightly inaccurately, such as 'By contrast' at the end of the introduction, which does not effectively link to the preceding sentence. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, though the connection between the thesis and the supporting arguments could be tightened to improve the overall logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'utilize', 'references', and 'subscriptions'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'brining them from a library' (should be 'borrowing') and 'access to' (the 'to' is redundant). Additionally, 'plateforms' is misspelled. While you attempt to use more sophisticated vocabulary, the errors occasionally draw attention. To improve, focus on using collocations correctly and ensuring that your vocabulary choices are precise rather than just attempting to use complex-sounding words that may not fit the context perfectly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the majority of resources is' (should be 'are'), 'readers crossing longer distance' (should be 'readers to cross longer distances'), and 'subscribe with them' (should be 'subscribe to them'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor slips throughout. You have a good grasp of basic structures, but to achieve a higher band, you need to increase the frequency of error-free complex sentences and ensure that your subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are more consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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