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 of digitalization of books, newspapers and other reading materials have rapidly increased. It became very accessible for everyone to find materials through websites and applications and to read them for free of cost. 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 of getting any reading material online through websites, applications and portals, it have given us a freedom to get any material at preferred time. It prevented the period of waiting for getting some material from library and books stores. Through digitalization people have started having access to buy or read any needed/helping materials through authentic websites and portals. Which also 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 more emotionally connected to them. 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 complete 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. Moreover, 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 manner of reading. 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 why traditional formats might persist. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding 'free' content is not fully explored, and the discussion on accessibility for the visually impaired is a strong point, but the conclusion introduces a new argument about health issues that was not previously mentioned. To reach a higher band, ensure that all main points are introduced in the introduction and developed logically throughout the body paragraphs without introducing new arguments in the conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'To conclude'. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For instance, the opening paragraph is slightly disjointed, and the connection between the idea of 'free' content and 'convenient storage' is not clearly linked. Improving the use of referencing and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. There are several instances of unnatural collocations, such as 'dot language' (instead of Braille) and 'fully digitalization' (instead of full digitalization). The range is somewhat limited, relying on repetitive phrasing like 'reading materials' and 'websites and portals'. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology and idiomatic expressions relevant to the topic of technology and media consumption.
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 the reader's flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('it have given us', 'newspapers or books still will be printed') and incorrect article usage ('in todays' period'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with apostrophes. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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