Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-26

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 6.5)

As societies continue to evolve, it is education that plays the most decisive role in everyone's life. Some people believe that educational institutions focus more on memorizing facts rather than acquiring practical knowledge. Although both perspectives have their merits, I am convinced that more time should be spent on learning practical skills.

The most compelling argument in favour of this view is that students, either they are studying in primary schools or universities, they learn more about the concept when teachers take real-life examples or demonstrate the activities. The inevitable outcome is that they learn it more easily.

Another dimension of this issue is that it assists students in cognitive development, as they can visualise the scenario, and relate to their lives which helps them to think more deeply and learn to create stories to memorize the concept effortlessly.

Beyond these practical considerations, students cannot lose interest while attending the classes. They come happily to the schools or universities to be keen to learn, not only for the attendance.

A further point worth highlighting is not favourable regarding spend too much time on learning facts. Apparently, students may feel bored and they may prefer to bunk the classes. Neither do they learn it properly nor find a friendly environment as they feel under pressure to memorize the concept.

In a nutshell, taking all factors into account, it is evident that practical skills have long-term benefits that are undeniable. Students take it as a more persuasive perspective rather than a formality to go to educational institutions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified the core issue—the balance between facts and practical skills—and provided reasons for your stance. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention that practical skills aid cognitive development, the explanation remains quite general. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, illustrative examples, such as how a science experiment or a vocational workshop specifically enhances learning compared to rote memorization. The conclusion effectively summarizes your position, but the overall depth of the argument could be improved by exploring the potential drawbacks of your view to provide a more balanced, academic discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central theme. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'The most compelling argument' and 'A further point worth highlighting,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced, and the flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing. For instance, the transition in the fourth paragraph regarding student interest is a bit abrupt. To improve, ensure that your linking words connect ideas more naturally and that your referencing (e.g., 'it' or 'they') consistently points back to the intended noun to avoid ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'decisive role,' 'cognitive development,' and 'persuasive perspective.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations, such as 'bunk the classes' (informal) and 'not favourable regarding spend' (grammatically incorrect). To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and avoiding informal idioms. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of academic synonyms and ensuring correct word forms will significantly enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is a positive step. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of the text. Examples include 'either they are studying... they learn' (redundant structure), 'not favourable regarding spend' (incorrect verb form), and 'Neither do they learn it properly nor find a friendly environment' (awkward syntax). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main point, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and gerunds to improve your accuracy.

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