Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-11

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)

Technology has advanced so far followed by digitalisation of everything around us. Some studies suggest that with the convenience of getting everything online, the era of printed newspapers seem to be extinct in upcoming years. I neutrally agree and disagree with the statement.

Decades ago, people used to visit markets or libraries to get newspapers and books if their choice. However, they felt overwhelmed by not finding a book available nearer to them. With the digital revolution, people can now find everything on mobile phones. Whether we want a national magazine or an international article seven oceans afar, we can avail it through internet. For example; E newspapers are now available on internet such as Dawn English magazine through which we can get awareness of all the current global issues.

There are some cons of digitalism, we cannot ignore. Before internet, people were more active and motivated. With increasing facilities, technology has also brought a huge number of health problems specially obesity and eyesight issues. For example; Research studies proved that the light emission from mobile phones disrupt the tear glands and cornera of eyes and is a main reason behind the fall of melatonin hormone which has lead to the development of sleep deprived cycle in users. Moreover, printed newspaper contribute to the economical growth of a country that has been disrupted with the over reliance on AI tools.

After all, it is crucial to take account to both positive and negative aspects of preferring e magazines over the printed one. One should be cautious about health, national economy ad convince.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both the advantages of online access and concerns about relying on digital media, and you give examples such as online access to international articles and possible health effects. However, your position is not sufficiently clear: “I neutrally agree and disagree” does not explain the extent of your agreement, and the conclusion advises caution without resolving this. Some points are also under-developed or loosely connected to the question. In particular, the claim that printed newspapers contribute to national economic growth is not explained, and the reference to AI tools does not clearly support the comparison between online and printed reading. State a definite position and develop two or three relevant reasons with clear explanations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph about online convenience, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a concluding statement. This gives the reader a basic route through your ideas. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and some links feel mechanical or do not show the relationship between claims. For example, “Moreover” introduces the economic point, but its connection to the preceding health discussion is not established. The conclusion begins “After all,” yet mainly repeats the need to consider both sides rather than drawing together your argument. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each example directly to its main point, and make references such as “the printed one” more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “digital revolution,” “over reliance,” “global issues,” and “health problems,” which helps communicate the subject. Some less common expressions are not used naturally or precisely, however. “The era of printed newspapers seem to be extinct” is an awkward way to describe a possible decline, while “seven oceans afar” and “digitalism” are unsuitable in this context. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “cornera,” “economical growth,” and “ad.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Prefer accurate, familiar collocations over elaborate phrasing, and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and attempts at more complex structures, including “With the digital revolution, people can now find everything on mobile phones” and the sentence beginning “Before internet.” However, errors in agreement, articles, and sentence construction recur. For example, “the era … seem” needs subject–verb agreement, and “newspapers contribute” does not agree with the singular subject “printed newspaper.” The opening phrase “Technology has advanced so far followed by digitalisation” is also structurally unclear. Some punctuation choices, such as the semicolons after “For example,” interrupt otherwise straightforward sentences. Aim for controlled complex sentences, check singular and plural agreement, and revise each sentence to ensure its clauses connect grammatically.

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