Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-08

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)

It is often argued that men and women possess inherently different qualities, making them better suited to certain types of jobs. While biological and psychological difference between the sexes may influence preference or tendencies, I largely disagree with the idea that certain jobs are exclusive to one gender.

One of the main reasons, men and women may display differences in physical strength or emotional expression on average. For instance, men may be more physically suited to roles requiring intense manual labour, such as construction work, while women may be perceived as more empathetic, which some associate with fields like nursing or childcare. However, these are generations and do not account for individual variation.

In reality, both men and women are capable of performing successfully in almost any profession given equal opportunity and training. For example, there are many successful female engineers, firefighters, and surgeons, just as there are male teachers, nurses, and caregivers who excel in their fields. Modern workplaces increasingly value skills such as communication, creativity, leadership, and critical thinking- qualities that are not determined by gender.

Moreover, assigning roles based on gender can reinforce harmful stereotypes and limit individuals from achieving their full potential. Encouraging inclusivity in all professions not only promotes equality but also ensures that industries benefit from a diverse talent pool.

In conclusion, while some physical or psychological differences between genders may exist, I strongly believe that job suitability should be determined by a person's ability, interests, and qualification - not by their gender.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for an opinion on whether now is the best time in history to live and which other historical period would be interesting to inhabit. Instead, the essay discusses gender roles in the workplace. Because the response fails to address the task requirements entirely, it cannot be scored higher than a Band 3 or 4 for Task Achievement. Additionally, the essay is 249 words, falling just short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which further impacts the score. To improve, you must carefully read the prompt and ensure your arguments directly answer the specific questions asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

Despite being off-topic, the essay is structured logically. It uses clear paragraphing and transition signals such as 'One of the main reasons', 'In reality', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion'. These devices help the reader follow the flow of the argument. However, because the content does not relate to the prompt, the logical progression is disconnected from the task. The use of cohesive devices is generally appropriate, but the lack of relevance to the topic prevents a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task. You demonstrate a range of topic-specific language related to your chosen (though incorrect) topic, such as 'inherently different qualities', 'individual variation', 'reinforce harmful stereotypes', and 'diverse talent pool'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is generally precise. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and idiomatic expressions, while ensuring they are applied to the correct subject matter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally strong. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively, such as 'While biological and psychological difference between the sexes may influence preference or tendencies, I largely disagree...'. There are minor errors, such as 'these are generations' (likely meant 'generalizations') and 'difference' (should be plural 'differences'). However, these errors do not impede communication. The control of punctuation and sentence structure is good, suggesting a solid grasp of English grammar.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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