Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

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 that more emphasis should be given to hands-on skills in modern curriculum, however factual knowledge should not be ignored, as it provides the foundation of learning.

The primary reason why some institutes spend major time in theorectical learning is that the same traditional curriculum is adopted by educators every year, in which the practical component is not given equal grading proportion compared to the theoretical component. For instance, in many secondary schools, the practical exams only accounts for 20% whereas theoretical exam accounts for the rest 80% of the grades. This disparity has led to focusing more on learning facts rather than practical skills. Therefore, some pedagogical experts believe that education system should provide equal consideration to both practical and theoretical aspects of learning.

Furthermore, practical skills are essential for preparing students for their careers. Although theoretical knowledge provides a strong foundation, students may struggle at workplace if they do not know how to apply what they have learned. For instance, engineering students 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 memorizing facts.

However, factual knowledge remains essential. Subjects such as mathematics and science require students to understand key concepts and facts before they can apply them effectively. To exemplify, a doctor cannot treat patients without first learning human anatomy. Therefore, practical skills should complement, rather than replace academic learning.

To sum up, although academic learning provides a strong foundation, equal importance should be given to both theoretical knowledge and practical skills as they equip students to face challenges in career and real-life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. Your ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of engineering students and medical training. The argument is balanced, acknowledging the necessity of theoretical knowledge while advocating for a shift toward practical skills. To reach a higher band, ensure that your conclusion fully synthesizes the points made rather than just restating them. Overall, the response is well-developed and directly answers the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'Furthermore', and 'To sum up' effectively. The transition between the argument for practical skills and the counter-argument regarding theoretical knowledge is smooth. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the second paragraph, 'the same traditional curriculum' could be more clearly linked to the specific context of the schools mentioned.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'pedagogical experts', 'equal consideration', and 'complement, rather than replace' show a good command of language. There are occasional minor issues with word choice, such as 'major time' instead of 'a significant amount of time'. While you use some less common items, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions would elevate the score further. Spelling is generally accurate, and your vocabulary is appropriate for an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'education system should' (missing an article: 'the education system') and 'at workplace' (missing an article: 'at the workplace'). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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