Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-14

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In various cultures, Children grow up hearing that there are no limits to what they can achieve if they are determined. This belief is intended to inspire them to pursue their dreams. However, it may also create unrealistic expectations. In my opinion, this mindset is beneficial, as children are also taught to be passionate but their limitation of how it can be placed excessive pressure on children.

On the one hand, this approach teaches children to take responsibility for their development. Rather than assuming that intelligence and talent are fixed qualities, they may understand that consistent practice and constructive feedback can improve their performance. For example, a child who initially struggles to speak confidently in public may gradually become an effective communicator. By practising regularly and learning from their mistakes. As a result, this encourages them to be self-confident.

On the other hand, the belief that anything is possible through hard work alone can have negative consequences. Success is not always determined by an individual's effort. For example, students who believe that they must achieve the highest marks through constant effort may experience anxiety. This may lead to personal failure.

In conclusion, encouraging children to work hard towards their ambitions can strengthen their willingness to learn. Nevertheless, it should not be presented as a way to absolute success. Parents and teachers should encourage children which will help them to be confident. They should teach them with success be prepared for failures and dissapointments too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both advantages and disadvantages and give a broadly clear view: the message can encourage effort, but should not promise guaranteed success. The example of a child improving at public speaking supports the benefit, while the discussion of anxiety among students shows a possible drawback. However, the disadvantage is less fully explained: “This may lead to personal failure” is unclear, and the conclusion’s advice about preparing for failure is not developed. The opening opinion is also difficult to follow because it combines passion with “their limitation” and excessive pressure in an unclear way. The response is 6 words below the required minimum, so it does not meet the task’s length requirement. Develop the consequences more clearly and state your position in a direct, precise sentence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. However, some links between ideas are faulty or unclear. The sentence “By practising regularly and learning from their mistakes” is a fragment, and “As a result, this encourages them” does not clearly identify what “this” refers to. The conclusion also moves abruptly from encouraging ambition to preparing for disappointment. Improve progression by connecting each example explicitly to its consequence, and make references such as “this” unambiguous. The paragraphing is appropriate, but cohesion is sometimes mechanical rather than smooth.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “consistent practice,” “constructive feedback,” “unrealistic expectations,” and “excessive pressure.” These phrases help communicate the main ideas, and the response shows some ability to discuss both motivation and its risks. However, several choices are imprecise or awkward, which limits clarity: “their limitation of how it can be placed” does not express a clear meaning, and “personal failure” is vague in the context of anxiety. “Teach them with success” is also an unnatural phrase, while “dissapointments” is misspelled. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling; for example, explain whether children may blame themselves or feel discouraged when effort does not produce the desired result.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including the contrast in “Rather than assuming that intelligence and talent are fixed qualities…” and the conditional idea about students who expect high marks. Meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. The opening opinion contains a faulty construction: “as children are also taught to be passionate but their limitation…” The fragment “By practising regularly and learning from their mistakes” should be joined to the preceding sentence, and “Parents and teachers should encourage children which will help them” has an unclear clause structure. The final sentence, “They should teach them with success be prepared…,” is also grammatically incomplete. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check how clauses are joined and punctuated.

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