Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-16

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 plays an important role in an individual's life; therefore, some argue that all phases of education, from early learning to university, are based more on theory than on practical skills. I completely agree with this statement, and I will explain my reasons: learning practical skills gives individuals confidence when they do one-on-one practice and also gives them hands-on experience rather than just reading from books.

To begin with, learning from books sometimes undermines students' confidence because not everyone is good at it. Some students do their best when they learn by doing practical work in labs or on the grounds. For instance, during my school years, I was very scared of the science subject and got low scores on written responses, but I scored high marks in practicals. Then my teacher noticed this and started explaining science concepts in the lab, which really helped all the students in my class, and we gained our confidence and performance.

Furthermore, hands-on experience with tools and materials gives knowledge about products and things that are really needed in the future and for entering a specific field. A book with a lot of information is sometimes not understandable by students, but if they have the chance to do experiments are really helpful for learning. For example, in Canada, educators and professors add practical work in every class and subject to make learning visible for children and students, such as any activity related to the chapter and exam.

To conclude, although spending time on learning facts is important, practical skills give opportunities to children and students to expand their knowledge and boost their confidence.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly stated your position and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported by personal examples, such as your experience with science classes. However, the development of ideas could be more sophisticated. While you mention that practical skills boost confidence and prepare students for the future, the arguments remain somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, try to explore the counter-argument (the value of theoretical knowledge) more deeply before refuting it, rather than just mentioning it briefly in the conclusion. This would provide a more balanced and comprehensive discussion of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'To conclude' to transition between ideas. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical. For instance, the sentence 'A book with a lot of information is sometimes not understandable by students, but if they have the chance to do experiments are really helpful for learning' lacks a clear subject and feels disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical', 'hands-on experience', and 'concepts'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'learning from books sometimes undermines students' confidence' or 'make learning visible'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'things that are really needed', you could use 'essential competencies' or 'industry-relevant skills'. Expanding your vocabulary will help you express complex ideas with greater precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'if they have the chance to do experiments are really helpful' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'if they have the chance to do experiments, it is really helpful'. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. To achieve a higher score, focus on increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and proofreading for small slips in tense and structure.

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

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