Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-03
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)
Some people believe that in the future nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. I agree to this view to a large extent because in recent years, the usage of social media and other online platforms has gradually increased.
One of the main reasons is that, internet is the most common thing in today's era and there are multiple e-books or e-news apps has been developed. Because of this, people can read books or newspapers online and they even don't have to carry books or newspapers physically while travelling. For example, last week I was travelling to pune by train, I was able to read one of my favourites book online. As a result, I didn't have to carry my books physically which was a great relief.
Another reason is that, compared to past, people nowadays can get to know about latest news online by checking their phones.They don't have to be dependent on buying printed newspapers to stay upto date with latest news and things that are going in the world.For instance, I prefer to check news online during the starting of my day and get to know about the latest trends and news of all over the world. As a result, I don't buy printed newspapers.
In conclusion, I believe that due to easy access to read everything that people want online without buying, in future nobody will buy printed newspapers or books.This is because, they can get everything they want to read by pocket friendly device instead of being dependent on physical newspapers or books.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
First, it is important to note that the response does not meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it contains only 241 words (with 31 words copied from the prompt uncounted). Regarding task fulfillment, the response addresses the prompt only partially. The writer takes a position agreeing with the statement, but the ideas presented are limited and remain under-developed. For example, while the writer mentions the convenience of reading books and news online and avoiding physical weight, the arguments lack depth, elaboration, and specific wider impacts beyond personal anecdotes. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to fully develop all parts of the task with extended explanations and ensure the word count requirement is comfortably met.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates some organisation with a clear introduction and conclusion, and paragraphs are generally used to separate distinct points. However, there is no clear overall progression throughout the text. Cohesive devices are sometimes inadequate, inaccurate, or repetitive, relying heavily on basic transitional phrases like 'Another reason is that' and 'As a result'. Additionally, referencing is occasionally imprecise. To achieve a higher score, the writer must ensure a more logical progression of ideas between paragraphs and use a wider, more flexible range of cohesive devices without over-relying on formulaic transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic message. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'pocket friendly device' and 'upto date', but these contain noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, form, and spelling. Furthermore, expressions like 'usage of social media' and 'favourites book' show issues with collocation and plurality. These errors can cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the writer should expand their lexical range, focus on accurate word choice and collocations, and pay closer attention to spelling and word forms.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response shows a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside basic complex forms. When the writer attempts more complex structures, errors frequently occur. There are noticeable mistakes in article usage, such as 'internet is the most common thing' and missing articles before singular countable nouns, as well as verb tense and agreement slips like 'apps has been developed'. Punctuation and spacing errors, such as missing spaces after periods, also appear. These frequent errors can cause difficulty for the reader. To progress, the writer needs to demonstrate better control over a wider variety of grammatical structures and reduce error frequency.
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.