Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15

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 5.0)

In today's world, this topic has become crucial talking point that can affect the amount of schooling from secondary school to institute that much of the time is being wasted on facts rather than the practical knowledge. I disagree with this statement.

In the first place, elementary schools are providing both the learning and practical skills to the students and not just the one fact. For example, my chemistry teacher, she teaches us with the formula's how to combine the chemicals, which are safe and hazardous. Also, once a week, we all visit the lab and practice chemicals with assistance. So, both are essential in schools and in universities.

In addition to this, I would say learning facts are more necessary than practical skills in life, firstly, we must have the awareness of the product, in spite of how to use it practically. For instance, during our psychic's class, I got the opportunity to make a light bulb without having the knowledge about the wires and how to make it properly. From that day, it is very important for all of us to study it before you do it practical.

Overall, without learning and analyzing the facts it is impossible for us to use our practical skills, and with our careful consideration, we can make the best of the situation.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you state a clear position, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the example regarding the 'psychic's class' (likely meaning physics) is confusing and does not clearly support your argument about the necessity of facts over skills. The ideas remain superficial and lack the depth required for a higher band. To improve, you must expand your points with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for full development of your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'In the first place' and 'In addition to this', the logical flow between sentences is occasionally weak. For example, the transition between the chemistry lab example and the conclusion is abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus will help improve the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as using 'psychic's class' instead of 'physics class' and 'institute' instead of 'higher education' or 'universities'. You also rely on repetitive phrasing. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and collocations. Avoid using informal or incorrect terminology, and try to incorporate a wider variety of topic-specific words to express your ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect article usage (e.g., 'the amount of schooling'), subject-verb agreement, and awkward phrasing, such as 'in spite of how to use it practically'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of apostrophes (e.g., 'formula's'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and practicing more complex sentence structures to improve your control.

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

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