Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.
What is your opinion about this?
What other time in history would be interesting to live in?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
Many people believe that the present is the best period of time in history because of fast technology and developing living standards. I largely agree with this opinion.
There are several reasons why modern life is better than ever before. The first and main reason is medical opportunities which is best for everyone and reduce the death sector and secondly the education is the main reason nowadays everyone complete their studies with or without going any institute all this is because of the better technology. technology has made communication and education easier. The internet allows people to learn new skills, work and stay connected with family. Furthermore, transportation is convenient and easy to access.
despite all these advantages, i would like to live ever before which is 14th to 17th century. it was a remarkable period of time where artistic, scientific, and cultural development. scientists may discoveries that changed the way people understood the world. living during this time would have provided the opportunity to witness these extraordinary achievements and observe how human creativity flourished.
To infer, it would be apt to say that the present is the best time to live because of advances in technology, healthcare, and overall quality of life. However, if i had to chance to experience another historical period, i would choose the Renaissance because of its unique contributions to human knowledge and culture and also explore the history where most information.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the opinion on the present day and the choice of a historical period. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments regarding medical and educational advancements are brief and lack specific examples. Furthermore, the response falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the depth of the discussion. To improve, you should expand on your points with concrete examples or personal experiences to ensure a more thorough exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'The first and main reason... and secondly'). Some transitions are abrupt, and the concluding paragraph is slightly confusing in its phrasing ('To infer, it would be apt to say...'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences flow more naturally into one another would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms like 'best' and 'good' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'reduce the death sector' (likely meaning mortality rates) and 'if i had to chance' (should be 'if I had the chance'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary and precise collocations that accurately convey your intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('medical opportunities which is best'), missing articles, and sentence fragments ('where artistic, scientific, and cultural development'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several instances of missing capitalisation for 'I' and at the start of sentences. While you attempt some complex structures, the high frequency of errors often distracts the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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