Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-02
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)
It is often argued by some people that in the coming days people should not buy books or printed newspaper because they should be able to read online everything without paying. Although some might disagree with this notion, I completely agree. Not only because of save time and financial benefit, but also because of wide range of information.
There are multiple benefits associated with online reading. Firstly, it help for time saving because people read online faster than printed newspaper information. As online information allow people to read every time on any place. Take an example, the Prime Minister of Germany say that in 2050, every citizen of this country read everything on internet without any charge because it help us to save timing. Thus, people read everything online without paying in future.
Secondly, read information without paying should also helping for financial benefit. As people should not pay the charge of read information that should helpful to save money. For instance, a survey conduct in Japan, most people said read everything online in future without paying should be people financial benefit. Hence, online information should be brining a financial benefit.
Finally, online read should allow people to read wide rang of information. As internet get data from all over the world. Take an example, most of the population of China, nowadays read information online because it allow to real world wide information.
To sum up, even though printed newspapers have some advantage too, but I believe that time saving, wide range information and financial beneficial people should read everything online in future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt and presents a clear position throughout, agreeing with the statement regarding free online reading in the future. However, the ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed, which keeps the response at this level. While the writer introduces main points such as saving time, financial benefits, and accessing a wide range of information, these arguments rely heavily on repetitive assertions and weak, generalized supporting examples rather than deep elaboration. For instance, the reference to a Prime Minister of Germany statement in 2050 and the survey in Japan are vague and lack substantive development. To reach a higher standard, the writer needs to fully extend and support each idea with more convincing, well-reasoned explanations and realistic examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt at paragraphing, using standard transitional markers such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Finally', and 'To sum up' to structure the response. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical and overly formulaic, with repetitive sentence openings ('As internet get data', 'Take an example'). Referencing and logical flow occasionally falter because cohesive devices are sometimes used inaccurately or repetitively, such as starting multiple paragraphs with similar causal structures. To move up to the next band, the writer must ensure that the progression between sentences is smoother, reducing reliance on basic transitional formulas and managing referencing more skilfully across the entire essay.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey basic points about digital media and reading. There are noticeable lexical errors in word choice, word form, and collocation throughout the text, such as 'printed newspaper' instead of newspapers, 'save time' versus 'save timing', 'read information' instead of reading information, and 'wide rang' instead of wide range. These inaccuracies sometimes cause slight confusion for the reader. To improve lexical resource, the writer needs to expand their range of vocabulary, pay closer attention to correct word forms and inflections, and incorporate less common lexical items with greater precision and stylistic awareness.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay demonstrates a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside frequent attempts at complex sentence forms that contain errors. There are frequent grammatical errors in verb forms, tense consistency, articles, and prepositions within grammatical patterns, such as 'people should not buy books or printed newspaper because they should be able', 'it help for time saving', 'read information without paying should also helping', and 'online read should allow'. These frequent errors can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader and obscure meaning. To achieve a higher band, the writer must increase their control over complex grammatical structures and significantly reduce the frequency of basic errors in agreement, articles, and verb formation.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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