Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-20

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)

We have moved into technological driven era and e- books and newspapers is not exceptional. Therefore, it is predicted that people will prefer to read e-books and online newspapers free of cost instead of buying newspaper. I strongly agree that technology make it convenient and accessible for everyone and portable due to which people will read them online.

To begin with, the one of advantages is that it is free of cost on different websites and easily accessible for everyone. Therefore, people prefer to use it rather than to buy. Moreover, they are portable because these are stored in the form of software in mobiles and laptops. People can carry them easily and read them any where such as during travelling.

On the other hand, Although printed newspaper and hard copies of books are expensive and out of reach for everyone however, some people buy to read them. They argue that they feel difficulties in reading e-books and comfortable with hard books. In addition, it is also difficult to save books in their proper conditions.

In conclusion, I largely agree that e-books will be used in the future due to its benefits like accessible, free of cost and portable. While printed books and newspaper is difficult to carry everywhere and take care them for future use.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you strongly agree that online reading will become more popular, and you give relevant reasons, including free access, portability and the comfort some readers find in printed books. However, the response only partly develops the task. The prompt specifically predicts that nobody will buy printed books or newspapers because everything will be available online without payment; your discussion does not fully examine whether this outcome is likely, and the opposing view is brief. The length requirement is also not met: the response is 34 words short of the minimum. To strengthen the answer, explain your reasons with specific examples and address whether printed materials will disappear entirely or remain in use for some readers.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the main ideas are generally easy to follow. Linking expressions such as “To begin with,” “Moreover” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. However, progression is limited: the first body paragraph repeats the idea that online material is accessible, while the second shifts to printed books without clearly connecting that contrast to your prediction about the future. Some linking is also awkward, particularly “Although … however,” which uses two contrast markers together. Develop one main point at a time and use clearer references to connect each paragraph to your central claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “e-books,” “online newspapers,” “portable” and “hard copies,” so the reader can understand the subject and your main reasons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, such as “technological driven era,” “not exceptional,” “feel difficulties” and “save books in their proper conditions.” These choices sometimes make the meaning less precise, even though the overall message remains understandable. Aim for more natural academic phrasing and avoid repeating “free of cost” and “accessible.” For example, you could describe online publications as “available at no charge” and say that readers “find screens difficult to read.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause in “because these are stored…” and a contrast in the paragraph about printed books. However, errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction occur throughout and sometimes make the reader pause. Examples include “e-books and newspapers is,” “technology make,” and “the one of advantages.” The sentence beginning “Although printed newspaper…” is also structurally faulty because it combines “Although” with “however” and does not form a clear contrast. Work on subject–verb agreement, singular and plural forms, and building complete contrast clauses. More accurate control of these patterns would make your argument easier to read.

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.