Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-11
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 5.0)
Most of the people believe that present day's world is the excellent period for living. But, when comes to my opinion, I consider early 90's was the absolute best time in the history for survival than present.
To support my statement, I would like to give discuss a few reasons in relevant to my opinion.
To begin with, the present world has may reasons to contradict with my thoughts. Firstly, the current generation does not have the affection and values towards one another when compared with past. Also, more advanced feature which makes us to feel unrealistic. Also, every one has been struggling in the fast paced environment by letting their standers and quality of living.
Where as when comes to, early 90's people had their own way of livelihood. They had much free times to their family. They shared a warm bonding with their family. T
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 147 words. Consequently, the task is incomplete, and the ideas are significantly under-developed. While you attempt to address both parts of the prompt—your opinion on the present and an alternative time period—the discussion is cut short. The arguments regarding the 90s are introduced but lack the necessary depth, examples, and logical extension required for a full essay. To improve, you must expand your points with specific evidence and ensure you complete the full structure of an essay, including a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay lacks a clear structure due to its unfinished nature. While you use some basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'Firstly', the progression of ideas is interrupted by the abrupt ending. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is incomplete, which hinders the overall flow. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that you use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') to connect your ideas more fluidly. The lack of a concluding paragraph also negatively impacts the coherence of the piece.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'excellent period for living' and 'warm bonding' are understandable but lack the sophistication expected at higher bands. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'survival than present' and 'letting their standers', which are imprecise. To improve, focus on learning collocations—words that naturally go together—and try to incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'fast paced environment', you could use 'high-pressure society'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you express your ideas with greater clarity and precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'Most of the people believe', 'when comes to my opinion', and 'may reasons to contradict with my thoughts'. There is a lack of control over sentence structure, with many fragments and awkward phrasing. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and the proper use of articles. Practicing the construction of complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions will also help you demonstrate a wider grammatical range.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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