Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-27

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)

The assertion that 21 century is superior for living as compared to the 18 or 20 century has sparked intense debate among individuals. While it is true that previous decades served high quality of livelihood with low expense , I firmly maintain that current era is more suitable for living due to increased demand in hand-craft and evolution in the governing powers.

The principal argument in favour of living in today's time lies in increasing demand in hand made products. When crafters in 18 and 20 century faced high demand of machine made goods there businesses were not protected it inevitably lead to high loss. This is particularly evident when considering, no support from the government to back up the loss . A case in point is, Canadian Indigenous Craft Association look after the people businesses

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 136 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the essay is cut off prematurely. While you attempt to address both parts of the prompt—the current era and a historical alternative—the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient supporting evidence. The position is stated, but the explanation regarding 'hand-craft' is confusing and does not clearly link to why the 21st century is the 'best' time to live. To improve, you must expand your points with detailed examples and ensure you reach the required length to fully explore the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows a basic attempt at paragraphing, but the logical progression is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'While it is true' and 'The principal argument', but they are somewhat mechanical. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraph is abrupt. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that ideas flow logically from one to the next using a wider variety of linking words and referencing to connect your arguments more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use some relevant terms like 'assertion', 'intense debate', and 'indigenous', but there are issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'served high quality of livelihood' (should be 'provided a high quality of life') and 'there businesses' (should be 'their businesses'). The range is limited, and the repetition of basic structures prevents the use of more sophisticated or idiomatic language. Focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include missing articles ('21 century' should be 'the 21st century'), incorrect verb forms ('lead' instead of 'led'), and punctuation errors. The sentence structure is often repetitive, and the lack of control over basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement and article usage, is evident. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb tenses.

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

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