Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-29
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 todays' period digitalization of books, newspapers and other reading materials have rapidly increased. It became very accessible for everyone to find materials and to read and watch news online. Well, I agree with this point, but within certain circumstances. I'll discuss my view on both the topics in forthcoming paragraph.
Now with the expanded exposure to get any reading material online through websites, applications and portals, it have given freedom to everyone to get any material at preferred time. It prevented the period of wait for getting some material from library and books/newspaper stores. Through digitalization people have started getting access to buy or read nay needed/helping materials through authentic sites and portals, Which provides convenient format of storing them. In couple of years, there would be some possibilities to have access to read materials online with any paid subscriptions or logins, with certain additional benefits.
On the other hand, it is believed that some people still prefer reading in traditional way, that it feels connected to them emotionally. Additionally people with disabilities in vision prefer reading by feeling the curves and impression of text. There are some books available in the market for blind people with dot language. In these circumstances, fully digitalization in reading would be a full-stop to people with disabilities.
To conclude, future possibilities of getting access to reading materials online cannot fully replace the traditional way of reading. Additionally, increased screen-time due to reading could lead us to the health issues related to vision. In prevention of that, it would still be preferable to read in traditional way. Printed newspapers or books still will be printed on paper to keep the users more connected to the reading experience.
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 both the shift toward digital media and the reasons for the continued relevance of printed materials. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding the 'free' nature of online content is underdeveloped, as you do not fully explore the economic implications or the 'freemium' models that exist. While you present a clear position, the explanation of why printed books will persist could be more robust. You touch upon accessibility and health, which are relevant, but the essay would benefit from more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The structure is logical, but the depth of argument is limited.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally' and 'On the other hand' to transition between ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. There are also issues with referencing and flow; for example, the phrase 'both the topics' in the introduction is vague, as you have not yet defined the two sides of the argument. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'digitalization', 'subscriptions', and 'portals'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'dot language' (referring to Braille) and 'nay needed/helping materials' (which appears to be a typo). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on fairly common expressions. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise academic terminology to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally hinder the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('it have given', 'digitalization... have rapidly increased') and punctuation errors ('todays' period', 'Which provides'). You attempt some complex sentence structures, but these are often marred by errors in syntax or word order. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common agreement and tense errors would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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