Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-19

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 4.5)

In recent years, the issue of digital reading has attracted considerable public and academic attention. While some people contend that read digital reading has a positive impact on pepole can save time and money others maintain that this can affect them negatively. This essay will examine both perspectives before presenting my own view.

On the one hand, critics of digital reading frequently point out a number of significant underlying causes A major reason for this is that pepole read everything without paying resulting in book stationary sales very decrease as well as job lost chances books and newspaper distibutor For example, recent research has shown that they can read online anyone can't purchase books and nespaper Furthermore, A which makes this approach less sustainable in the long run

On the other hand, proponents of emphasize a number of notable benefits / practical solutions / positive outcomes. This is primarily because which in turn leads to Consequently, For instance, clearly illustrating how can positively influence both

In conclusion, after analyzing both sides of the digital reading, it can be concluded that the issue (presents both challenges and opportunities / has both problems and solutions / shows both causes and effects). Therefore, a balanced approach is needed that acknowledges the risks while (maximizing / finding) the (benefits / solutions) of digital reading, particularly when it is implemented in a responsible and well-regulated manner.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource4.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response attempts to address the prompt regarding whether free online reading will eliminate printed books and newspapers. However, the length requirement is NOT met, as the essay contains only 231 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum. This under-length impacts the development of ideas. Furthermore, parts of the text contain template placeholders and fragmented sentences, such as 'proponents of emphasize a number of notable benefits / practical solutions / positive outcomes', which prevents a fully developed position. While the introduction outlines an intent to examine both perspectives, the content in the body paragraphs collapses into incomplete thoughts and formulaic phrases, resulting in a limited and under-developed response. Consequently, the score reflects a partial address of the task constraints and limited idea expansion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The essay uses standard paragraph breaks, dividing the response into an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the internal cohesion and logical progression are severely disrupted by incomplete sentences, disjointed clauses, and raw template fragments containing slash marks like '(presents both challenges and opportunities / has both problems and solutions)'. Referencing is frequently unclear, and cohesive devices are often misused or left dangling without adequate supporting clauses, such as 'This is primarily because which in turn leads to Consequently'. While an overarching structural arrangement is attempted, the actual progression of ideas breaks down repeatedly, leading to a fragmented reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used throughout the essay is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on formulaic expressions or placeholder words. Instances of awkward word formation and poor collocation appear, such as 'book stationary sales very decrease', 'job lost chances', and 'nespaper'. The presence of unedited template text with multiple alternative slash options demonstrates a lack of lexical control and poor editing. Although some general topic-related terms like 'digital reading', 'academic attention', and 'sustainable' are attempted, the overall range is limited, and noticeable errors in word choice and spelling cause significant difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The essay exhibits a very limited range of accurate sentence structures. While the writer attempts some complex constructions, these are frequently incomplete, ungrammatical, or interrupted by template fragments, such as 'For example, recent research has shown that they can read online anyone can't purchase books and nespaper'. There are frequent errors in clause structure, punctuation, and word forms, such as 'pepole read everything without paying resulting in...'. The high frequency of grammatical breakdowns and fragmented thoughts significantly impedes communication and distracts the reader throughout the piece.

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