Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-07
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)
There is a discussion about discontinuation of printed newspaper and books as the same material will be available online for free. I mostly agree with this idea while having minor reservations.
Digitilization is the future of the world with its implications already in practice. Healthcare, transport and education systems are already using technology for the betterment of society. In the near future, we will have access to the newspaper and books of all categories online and free of charge. This can transform the concept of reading. E-books are already being launched on different websites for free. It will be more feasible for the public to read on their computers and mobile phones without spending money on newspaper subscriptions and books. This will mark a decline in the sale of literature.
On the other hand, the complete cessation of trade of printed text is a myth. A decline will be observed but their are some groups of people that will still need the hard copy of books and other publications. This includes the elderly who cannot stare at the screen for long period of times. Furthermore digital scriptures will need a stable internet connection and an electronic device which not many can afford
In the conclusion, I agree that the trade of published work will decrease significantly over time, but complete elimination of these will not be possible, at least in near future.
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, but it is under the minimum word count of 250 words, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While you present a clear position, the arguments remain somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about the elderly is relevant but could have been expanded with more depth regarding the 'digital divide' or the tactile preference for physical books. Because the response is under-length, the development of ideas is restricted, preventing a higher score. To improve, ensure you provide more detailed examples and extend your reasoning to fully explore the implications of the shift to digital media.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'In the conclusion' to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and the flow could be improved with more sophisticated transition markers. The referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be tighter. Overall, the structure is functional and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'discontinuation', 'digitilization', and 'cessation'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'digital scriptures' (which is not the standard term for digital texts) and 'trade of printed text'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. To improve, focus on learning collocations related to technology and media, and ensure you use words in their correct context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'there are some groups' (you wrote 'their'), 'long period of times' (should be 'long periods of time'), and 'at least in near future' (missing an article). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, article usage, and proofreading for common homophone errors like 'their' versus 'there'.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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