Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-14
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)
Many people believe that printed newspapers and books will completely vanish because everything can be read onilne for free. I strongly disagree with this idea, Evwn though reading online is very popular, quality digital content is rarely free, and printed books still has many benefits.
First, most high-quality news and popular books online usually require paid subscriptions or purchase. Because good information is usually not free of cost. People have always to pay to read digital or printed books because good information is source of income. In both conditions we have to pay to get what we want .Therefore, the idea that free online access will replace physical media is inaccurate.
Second, physical books and newspapers offer benefits that digital screens cannot replace. Reading on paper gives your eyes break from the screen light. The harmful rays coming from the screen can also affects our vision which is very harmful. Reading on paper also helps you to concentrate without interrupted by pop-up adds. When there is no internet then we cannot access our online books. Additionally many people enjoy owing books , collecting them on book shelves , and the smell of real books. Sudies also that people often understand and remember text beter when reading from paper that scrolling on internet.
In conclusion, printed paper and books will not dissappear in the future. Digital reading is fast and convenient but it can noyt replace physical media. Furthermore, physical media provides a healthier, less distracting, and more enjoyable reading experience that digital devices can never fully duplicate.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response clearly addresses all parts of the prompt by taking a strong stance against the idea that physical books and newspapers will completely disappear and that everything is free online. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant arguments, such as the cost of quality digital content, eye strain, lack of distractions on paper, and the tangible pleasure of owning physical books. While some points could be elaborated further, the task is successfully and fully addressed, meeting the criteria for a Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'First', 'Second', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in minor awkward transitions and sentence-level cohesion issues like 'In both conditions we have to pay to get what we want .Therefore'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but overall cohesion lacks the flexibility and smoothness of a higher band. These features place the response firmly at Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'subscriptions', 'convenient', and 'duplicate'. However, there are notable spelling and word-choice errors, including 'onilne' instead of 'online', 'Evwn' instead of 'Even', 'has' instead of 'have' (books still has), 'adds' instead of 'adds/ads', 'owing' instead of 'owning', and 'Sudies also that' (missing verb). These errors do not impede overall communication, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band. The lexical resource is consistent with a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional clauses ('When there is no internet then we cannot access our online books') and concessive clauses ('Even though reading online is very popular...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors in tense consistency, article usage, subject-verb agreement ('printed books still has'), and typographical slips. Several sentences contain structural awkwardness, such as 'Sudies also that people often understand and remember text beter when reading from paper that scrolling on internet.' These errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, placing the grammar score at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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