Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-11
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)
People argue that after few decades everyone will be able to read books and newspaper online rather than buying in printed form. I partially agree on this argument because not paying for printed books will save money and on other hand much more reading on mobile phone can cause different problems like eye sight weakness.
Firstly, this trend will give a lot of benefits to people for example, they will be able to read books in each place without carrying books with them. The most valuable profit will be in shape of money save it means that people will not have to pay for printed books that are really expensive on book shops and they cannot also carry books because it will require a bag. Last benefit that i would like to discuss is that people will easily find out books online throw websites it will saves time.
On the other side, this trend will cause damage to the eye sight of a person massively instead of reading printed books. I think it can also can distract student for example if a student is reading from online websites he or she can receive a lot of notifications of entertainment in this case student will be distracted from his work and will involve in illegal activities like watching porn videos this is also a big damage for children future.
In conclusion, this trend can be proved as beneficial or can create problem Government should ban illegal websites that distract students from work and also use of mobile phone for children besides this reading books for short time online will be facilitative.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the shift to online reading and the potential drawbacks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the benefits of convenience and cost are mentioned, the explanation remains superficial. The argument regarding the negative impacts is also slightly disjointed, particularly the inclusion of specific, inappropriate examples that do not directly relate to the core debate of printed versus digital media. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack the depth and nuance required for a higher band score. To improve, ensure that each point is fully extended with logical reasoning rather than listing several points briefly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive. Phrases like 'Firstly' and 'On the other side' are used, but the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are sometimes abrupt. There are instances where referencing is unclear, such as the pronoun usage in the second paragraph. The flow of ideas is generally logical, but the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the progression feel somewhat stilted. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'benefits', 'damage', and 'problems'. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'valuable profit' instead of 'significant financial saving' or 'eye sight weakness' instead of 'eye strain'. There are also minor errors in collocation and word form, such as 'throw websites' (through) and 'saves time' (save time). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to digital media and literacy, and focus on using words in their correct collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('in shape of money'), incorrect verb forms ('it will saves time'), and awkward phrasing ('can also can distract'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences that lack proper conjunctions or full stops. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction impede the flow of the writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs would significantly improve the accuracy of your sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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