Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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 7.0)

It is often argued that in educational centres, from primary to tertiary levels, students are encouraged to memorize facts instead of gaining practical skills. I agree to the fact and believe that rote-learning is outdated and more emphasis should be given to hands-on skills.

The primary reason behind this paradigm is that the same traditional curriculum is adopted by educators every year which has led to the continuation of similar educational trends which were designed decades ago. Additionally, even though in higher grades the practical portion of the studies are mandatory, it is not given equal weightage compared to the theoretical portion. For instance, in many secondary schools, practical exam only accounts for 20% and theoretical exam accounts for the rest 80% of the grades. This disparity has led to focusing more on learning facts rather than practical skills. Nevertheless, some pedagogical experts believe that the education system should provide equal weightage to both practical and theoretical aspects of the examination system.

Furthermore, practical skills are essential for preparing students for their careers. Although theoretical knowledge provides strong foundation, students may struggle at workplace if they do not know how to apply what they have learned. For instance, engineering sstudents may know complex formulas but still face difficulties when operating equipment or solving practical problems at work. Therefore, schools and universities should focus on developing practical skills rather than memorising the facts.

To sum up, although students should assimilate information as a part of the traditional syllabus to get a strong foundation, equal importance should be given to both theoretical knowledge and practical skills as it equips students to apply learnt knowledge and face challenges in real life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of secondary school grading systems and the challenges faced by engineering students. The argument is well-developed, though it could be further strengthened by exploring the potential benefits of theoretical knowledge in more depth to provide a more balanced perspective before concluding. Overall, the response is focused and directly answers the question regarding the balance between facts and practical skills.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'To sum up'. Referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. While the flow is effective, some of the cohesive links are slightly standard; incorporating a wider variety of linking phrases could elevate the coherence to a higher level. Nevertheless, the structure is easy to follow and supports the reader's understanding throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. You demonstrate the ability to use topic-specific terminology such as 'paradigm', 'pedagogical', 'assimilate', and 'theoretical knowledge'. There are a few minor issues, such as 'weightage' (which is common in some regions but less standard in academic English) and 'learnt knowledge' (which is slightly redundant). However, the range is adequate to convey precise meaning, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on more sophisticated collocations and idiomatic expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There is good control over grammar, with most sentences being error-free. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'Although theoretical knowledge provides a strong foundation, students may struggle...'. There are a few minor slips, such as 'engineering sstudents' (typo) and 'practical exam' (should be plural 'practical exams'). These errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the clarity of your argument. The punctuation is generally accurate, contributing to the overall readability of the text.

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