Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27
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)
Education system from primary to tertiary level are often criticized for their main focus is on drilling facts than on teaching application of knowledge. I completely agree because practical skills prepare students to excel their professional lives by increasing retention and interest in the studies.
Hands-on learning leaves a long last impression on students' mind. Students understand concepts more deeply when they apply information instead of only memorizing concepts. This also prepare them for their practical life and help them in their professions. A good example of such an education system is the Montessori system of education, which emphasis on practical and life skills in the yearly years of a child, which shapes their strong foundation to acquire academic excellence in later years.
The learning journey of students is enhanced when they are interested in what they learn. When learners are given opportunity to explore using all their five senses instead of just passively listening the facts. This sparks curiosity and interest in the subject. For instance, A survey conveyed by times magazine states that students were more interested in science class than a history class because the former involved more experiments.
In conclusion, practical education equips students for life beyond classroom and make them a life-long learner. Therefore, education systems should work to enhance practical competencies of pupil
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of practical skills. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the argument. While the ideas regarding the Montessori system and student engagement are relevant, they are not fully developed. The conclusion is also abrupt and incomplete, failing to provide a comprehensive summary of the main points. To improve, you should expand on your examples and ensure that each paragraph provides sufficient supporting detail to reach the required word count.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'For instance' and 'In conclusion,' to link your thoughts. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between sentences could be smoother. The final sentence is incomplete, which disrupts the overall flow of the conclusion. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to your main argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'academic excellence,' 'competencies,' and 'passively.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'conveyed by times magazine' (should be 'conducted by') and 'long last impression' (should be 'lasting impression'). There is also a minor error in 'yearly years' instead of 'early years.' While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, you need to work on more precise word choices and collocations to achieve a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Education system... are often criticized'), missing articles ('in science class'), and incorrect verb forms ('listening the facts' instead of 'listening to the facts'). Additionally, the final sentence is a sentence fragment. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with prepositions, articles, and verb tense consistency.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.