Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-11

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)

It is undeniable that schools and universities are spending much time on learning facts. Some people believe that they should spend more time on learning practical skills. However, I completely disagree with this notion and I will explain my reasons in this essay.

To begin with, there are a plenty of reasons why gaining facts are important. The first and foremost reason is that students need to have basic theory knowledge before performing practical. If students do not have enough theory knowledge then it would be difficult for them to understand certain concepts. To give an example, before working on chemicals, it is necessary to have basic knowledge about chemicals otherwise students can end up being hurt by harmful reactions from chemicals. Moreover, students can not understand fully concepts if they are only performing practical .

Second reason is an affordability. In other words, not every school or university can afford enough tools for every student to perform practical. For example, some schools can not afford high quantity of computers. Therefore, it would be better to focus more on learning computer facts then giving them access to computer.

On the other side, only dependent on theory knowledge have some cons as well. Firstly, students can not fully understand the facts if they are not practically performing it. Study suggests that it will be easy to understand while performing practical skills rather than learning only facts.

To conclude, although focusing more on practical skills has some advantages like understanding facts well, I still believe that all levels of education from primary schools to universities should focus more on learning facts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide reasons for prioritizing theory, such as safety and affordability, the arguments could be more deeply explored. For instance, the point about affordability is a practical constraint rather than a pedagogical argument for why theory is superior. Additionally, the counter-argument paragraph is brief and lacks a strong rebuttal, which weakens the overall persuasive impact. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully elaborated with more nuanced reasoning and specific examples that directly relate to the educational benefits of theory over practice.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Second reason', and 'To conclude' to signal the progression of your argument. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Furthermore, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, the phrase 'only dependent on theory knowledge have some cons' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between sentences is smoother and less reliant on simple enumerators.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'theory knowledge', 'practical skills', and 'harmful reactions'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'a plenty of reasons' (should be 'plenty of reasons') and 'learning computer facts' (which is slightly unnatural). There is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and refining your collocations to sound more natural and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'gaining facts are important' (subject-verb agreement), 'performing practical' (missing noun, e.g., 'practical tasks'), 'students can not understand fully concepts' (word order), and 'only dependent on theory knowledge have some cons' (incorrect sentence structure). These errors do not impede communication, but they are noticeable. To achieve a higher score, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct word order in complex sentences, and the consistent use of articles and plural forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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