Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-08

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 6.5)

Nowadays, the internet has become an important part of our lives. Some people believe that in the future nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they can read everything online for free. I partly agree with this statement because online reading is becoming more popular, but I do not think printed materials will completely disappear.

Firstly, there are many advantages of reading newspapers and books online. People can get information very quickly through the internet. For example, they can read the latest news on their mobile phones without waiting for the next day's newspaper. There are also many websites and applications where people can read books and articles. Online information is also easy to carry because a person can keep many books in one mobile phone or tablet. Therefore, I believe that the number of people buying printed materials will decrease in the future.

However, I do not agree that nobody will buy printed newspapers or books. Many people still enjoy reading a physical book because they find it more comfortable and relaxing. Reading from a screen for a long time can also cause eye problems and make people tired. In addition, some people like to collect books and keep them in their homes. Printed books can also be useful for students because they can underline important information and make notes easily.

In conclusion, I agree that online reading will become more common and the demand for printed newspapers and books will probably decrease. However, I do not believe that printed materials will completely disappear because many people still prefer physical books and newspapers.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.5
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that is maintained throughout the essay. The writer acknowledges the convenience of online reading while defending the continued relevance of physical books. The ideas are relevant and supported with logical arguments, such as the health benefits of physical books versus the portability of digital ones. The development is balanced, covering both sides of the argument effectively. To reach a higher band, the writer could provide more specific examples or deeper analysis, such as discussing the economic impact on the publishing industry or the role of libraries, to further extend the arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used appropriately to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the structure is coherent throughout. To improve, the writer could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive devices or more sophisticated transitions to move beyond standard linking words, which would enhance the flow and make the connections between ideas feel more natural and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. The writer uses topic-specific terms like 'printed materials', 'physical book', and 'online reading' correctly. While the range is adequate, it is somewhat limited and relies on fairly common vocabulary. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To achieve a higher band, the writer should aim to incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary and collocations, such as 'digital proliferation' or 'tactile experience', to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of lexical resources and to add nuance to the arguments presented.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For instance, the use of conditional-like structures ('if... because they can...') and complex sentences with 'although' or 'because' is handled well. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. To reach a higher band, the writer should aim for a greater variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice, inverted sentences, or more advanced relative clauses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy currently displayed in the simpler sentence constructions.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.