Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-04

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)

Few people believe that education at different levels focuses mainly on theoretical knowledge rather than teaching practical skills. I completely agree with this view because practical knowledge is essential for students to succeed in the job market and achieve long-term career success and it provides long-term benefits such as career opportunities, confidence, and knowledge etc.

Firstly, focusing more on practical skills helps students become job-ready. It also reduces the need for students to spend money on additional certification course after graduation. For example, to get a job in today's competitive job market students have to register themselves for an apprenticeship after school to gain practical skills and other essential skills like communication, teamwork and problem-solving.However, In my opinion engineering students should work in laboratories rather than only reading textbooks which helps them build successful long-term career growth.

Furthermore, Spending too much time memorizing facts can only improves academic performance. In addition, Practical projects increase understanding and confidence in students. For example, If medical students do not know to give an injection or perform surgery then how and where they will use that theoretical knowledge, same for the business students they benefit greatly from internships. Real-world situations differ from the school, they need people who are smart, well-trained with skills such as critical thinking, communication and problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, Although learning facts plays an important role in education, but practical knowledge is equally essential in real-world to grow yourself and achieve success. Students who struggle with lack of practical skills cannot compete in the job-market which is the loss for the country in finding a skilled labour as well as to parents because of unemployment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant, particularly the focus on job readiness and the limitations of theoretical learning. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. For example, the mention of 'engineering students' and 'medical students' provides good illustrative support, but the conclusion introduces new points about the national economy and parental impact that were not previously explored. To reach a higher band, ensure that all main points are introduced and fully developed within the body paragraphs rather than adding new arguments in the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical or awkward, such as the transition 'However, In my opinion' which is punctuated incorrectly. Additionally, the use of 'etc.' at the end of the first paragraph is informal and detracts from the academic tone. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'apprenticeship', 'theoretical knowledge', and 'competitive job market'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'grow yourself' (better: 'personal development') and 'the loss for the country in finding a skilled labour' (better: 'a shortage of skilled labor'). The use of 'etc.' is inappropriate for an IELTS essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('memorizing facts can only improves') and punctuation errors, such as the comma splice in the first paragraph and the incorrect capitalization of 'However, In'. Additionally, there are minor errors with articles and prepositions, such as 'in real-world' (should be 'in the real world'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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