Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-07

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 7.5)

It has been widely argued that schools often focus more on theoretical knowledge than on practical skills. I totally agree with this statement and believe that the education system should be revamped to equip students with skills that will be useful in the future.

To begin with, educational institutions largely focus on teaching theory to students because they believe that it will help students to widen their knowledge as textbooks offer a quick way to learn vocabulary, history, and math. However, this information is useless if a student does not know how to apply this in real life. Moreover, there may be higher chances to forget factual knowledge as compare to practical skills. For example, a business student may understand difficult theories, but still find it difficult to communicate professionally, work as part of a team or solve problems under pressure. Therefore, theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient to prepare young people for their future careers.

Educational institutions should consequently provide students with more opportunities to develop practical abilities. Schools could teach essential life skills such as financial literacy, communication and basic problem-solving, while universities could incorporate internships, presentations and project-based assignments into their courses. For example, engineering students could be required to design and develop actual products rather than merely studying technical principles from textbooks. Such activities would allow students to apply theoretical concepts, thereby improving both their understanding and employability.

In conclusion, while learning facts remains an important part of education, I believe too much attention is currently devoted to theoretical knowledge. Schools and universities should achieve a better balance by combining academic learning with practical experience so that students are better prepared for both employment and everyday life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You have effectively balanced the discussion by acknowledging the role of factual knowledge while arguing for the necessity of practical skills. The ideas are well-developed, particularly in the second and third paragraphs, where you provide specific examples such as business communication and engineering projects. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the depth of your examples by briefly explaining the long-term societal impact of these educational changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'To begin with,' 'Moreover,' 'Consequently,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive usage of linking words, which demonstrates a high level of control over the structure of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'revamp the education system,' 'theoretical concepts,' and 'employability' are used accurately. There is an awareness of style and collocation, and your word choices are generally appropriate for an academic context. While the vocabulary is effective, it is largely functional. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'pedagogical framework' or 'pragmatic application,' to demonstrate a more flexible and nuanced command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'if a student does not know...', 'while learning facts remains...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is strong. There is a minor error in the phrase 'as compare to' (should be 'compared to'), but this is a rare slip that does not impede communication. Your use of modal verbs and passive voice is accurate and contributes to the formal tone of the essay. The grammar is consistent and supports the clarity of your arguments.

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