Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-25
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)
Nowadays, people can read newspapers and books online without any money. Some people believe that nobody will buy printed newspapers or books in the future. I partly agree with this statement because online reading is becoming more popular but printed ones are also vital for us.
On the one hand, reading online has many advantages. Firstly, people can easily read news and bookson their mobile phones, tablet or in computers. They do not need to carry any books and newspapers in their bags to read it, whenever they want they just have to download it and read it. Secondly, online things are mostly free so people can save life. For example, students can read article and study online without spending money. Online news are very beneficial as we can know any thing quickly.m
On the other hand, printed newspapers and books will completely disappear. Many people enjoy reading physical books as well because they can hold them and turn the pages. In addition, reading printed materials may helpn people to avoid distractions. For example, some students prefer using printed books because they can concentrate better while studing. Furthermore, people think that printed materials are still useful for them.
In conclusion, although online reading is convinient and can save money. I beleive that both online and printed materials will continue to be used because people have different needs and preferences.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You give a clear, relevant position—“I partly agree”—and discuss both online and printed reading, so the response addresses the central issue. The benefits of online access and the appeal of physical books are supported with examples, such as students reading online and concentrating with printed books. However, the position is not fully consistent: the printed-materials paragraph begins, “printed newspapers and books will completely disappear,” which contradicts your view that they remain useful. Also, the prompt specifically claims that everything will be available online without payment, but this claim is not examined in depth. The response is below the required 250 words, which limits the development of your reasons. Clarify your position and extend each main point with explanation or a more specific example.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of your argument, and the examples generally follow the points they illustrate. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak: the final sentence of the second body paragraph, “printed materials are still useful for them,” repeats an earlier idea rather than developing it. The claim that printed materials will “completely disappear” also disrupts the logical connection with your stated partial agreement and conclusion. Some links between sentences are abrupt, as in “Online news are very beneficial as we can know any thing quickly.” Make each paragraph develop one clear point and use references and transitions to show how ideas connect.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “physical books,” “printed materials,” “distractions,” and “concentrate.” There is also some useful variation between “online reading” and “printed” resources. However, the range is limited and several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “save life,” “online things,” and “know any thing quickly.” Spelling errors—including “convinient,” “beleive,” and “studing”—are noticeable, while “bookson” appears to be a spacing or typing error. These slips do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall argument, but they reduce accuracy and naturalness. Build a more precise vocabulary for discussing cost, access, and reading habits, and check spelling and word combinations carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple sentences and longer structures, including a reason clause in “because online reading is becoming more popular” and a conditional-style time reference in “whenever they want.” The overall meaning is usually understandable, but control is uneven, and some sentence structures are faulty. For example, “They do not need to carry any books and newspapers in their bags to read it” has unclear pronoun agreement and an awkwardly constructed ending. “Although online reading is convenient and can save money” is a dependent clause presented as a complete sentence, while “Online news are” has subject–verb disagreement. Punctuation is also missing before “quickly” in one sentence. Practise complete sentence structures, agreement, and clear pronoun reference, then proofread each sentence for punctuation.
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.