Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-10
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people say that in all levels of education, from primary schools to universities, too much time is spent on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills.
Do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 6.0)
Some people hold the opinion that all the educational institutions including schools, colleges and universities primarily focus on teaching theory based knowledge rather than practical skills. I completely agree with their point of view. In this essay, I will discuss the reasons behind my stance regarding teaching priorities of the educational institutions.
The schooling system of our country is traditional and out-dated. It relays heavily on traditional classroom based system, in which bookish knowledge is taught all day. It include specific periods of lecture that change after sometime. Academics that are taught are during these lectures are vast with little practicle implications, mostly teaching useless knowledge that students will never apply during their practical life. Moreover, the exams also focus on testing this aquired knowledge rather than creative capability of the students.
Lack of practical skill taught during student's life has serious drawbacks on their careers. For example, most of the employers access the applicants based on their experience and productive skills, the educational exellence become a second priority. Schools never taught them how to earn, be practical and productive. The other disadvantage of just learning facts is that it declines the productivity of the students affecting the overall production of a country.
In conclusion, practical skills are very crucial to survive in this world. The importance of a professional is accessed by his practical knowledge and creativity. No one will test your theory knowledge in practical life. The universities should focus on teaching the students skills that will help them to earn a living and be an asset to the society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
Your position is clear from the introduction (“I completely agree”) and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address the central contrast between factual learning and practical skills, and the points about employment and national productivity are relevant. The employer example helps explain why practical abilities matter. However, some claims are asserted rather than developed: for instance, calling much academic content “useless” is not supported with a specific example, and the link between fact-based education and lower national productivity needs further explanation. The discussion also focuses mainly on your country’s schooling system, with less attention to how the issue applies across primary, secondary and university education. More balanced, specific examples and fuller explanation would strengthen the response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The progression from describing classroom teaching to discussing career consequences is understandable, and signposts such as “Moreover,” “For example” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. At times, however, the connections between ideas are broad or abrupt. The claim that fact-based learning “declines the productivity of the students” and affects national production is not fully linked to the preceding employment point. Some references, such as “them” in “Schools never taught them,” could be clearer about who is meant. Develop each paragraph around a more explicit central point and use linking phrases to show cause and effect rather than relying mainly on general transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “practical skills,” “applicants,” “productive skills” and “creative capability,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice problems that limit precision: “relays” should be “relies,” “aquired” should be “acquired,” and “access the applicants” is not the intended expression; “assess applicants” would fit. Phrases such as “practical life” and “professional is accessed” are also unnatural in context. Some wording is repetitive, particularly the repeated references to “practical” skills and knowledge. Aim for accurate collocations and vary key terms—for example, distinguish applied learning, workplace competencies and theoretical knowledge.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including the relative clause “in which bookish knowledge is taught all day” and the sentence beginning “For example.” The overall meaning is usually clear, but errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. For example, “It include specific periods” needs “It includes,” while “Academics that are taught are during these lectures” has an incorrect and confusing structure. “The educational exellence become a second priority” also needs a plural subject–verb match, and “Schools never taught them” shifts tense without a clear reason. Review subject–verb agreement, tense consistency and sentence boundaries, and simplify constructions when needed. Greater control of these patterns would make your varied sentence attempts more effective.
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