Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-01
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 undeniable that the future is filled with reading materials that are easily accessible online to read. However, i personally disagree with the statement that it will completely replace the need for printed newspapers and books.
On the one hand, printed physical newspapers and books have been a integral part of everyone's life until now. These form of media has been used everywhere until now therefore completely replacing the need will be a tenacious milestone to achieve. Moreover, it cannot completely eradicate the need of these physical media. For example, the invention of cellular smart phones did not completely eradicate old telephones which are used to this date.
On the other hand, digital reading materials is a useful tool in many use cases such as easy accessibility over physical books and newspapers, the ability to read at any place and any time is some of the many use cases of digital reading materials. Moreover, digital libraries are huge and different type of books can be easily accessed using on just the click of the finger. Moreover, digital media would serve as a great push for people to buy physical media as it induces curiosity and supportiveness of the reader that the reader would want to support the creator of the book by buying the physical copy.
In my perspective, digital media can never replace the need for traditionally printed newspapers and books but in contrast it will serve as a push for the consumer to buy the original piece of work.
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 and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention that digital media will not replace physical books, the reasoning—such as the comparison to landline telephones—is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the 'why' behind your arguments. For instance, you could discuss the tactile experience of reading or the archival value of physical books to provide more depth. The conclusion is clear, but the overall argument could be more robustly supported with more detailed examples or nuanced analysis of the 'free' aspect mentioned in the prompt.
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 like 'On the one hand' and 'Moreover' to link your points. However, the use of 'Moreover' is repetitive, appearing three times in the second and third paragraphs. Additionally, some transitions feel mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within the paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of referencing and substitution techniques.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undeniable,' 'eradicate,' and 'tenacious.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'tenacious milestone' is not a natural collocation; 'daunting challenge' would be more appropriate. Similarly, 'supportiveness of the reader' is slightly awkward. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—will help you sound more natural and sophisticated in your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For instance, 'These form of media has' should be 'This form of media has' or 'These forms of media have.' There are also issues with subject-verb agreement, such as 'digital reading materials is,' which should be 'are.' Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors, such as the unnecessary space before 'therefore.' To improve, focus on proofreading for basic agreement errors and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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