Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-25
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 5.5)
Schools play an indispensable role in shaping an individual's future. Some people argue that all levels of education from primary educational institutes to universities place greater emphasis on learning facts and theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills. I partially agree with this notion because, although professional skills has several advantages, theoretical subjects should not be overlooked.
On the one hand, One of the primary reasons why historical facts can be considered important is that they helps students understand reality and reasons behind the stories. By learning the facts, students cannot only improve their knowledge but also learn distinguishing between right and wrong. For instance, many students can understand human evolution by learning about history at school. As a result, they are more likely to compare the lifestyles of our ancestors and modern periods.
On the other hand, there are also numerous benefits of learning practical skills at educational institutes. Since students are mandatorily participated in group activities by teachers, they are required to interact with their classmates. Consequently, these activities help learners improve such practical experience such hands-on skills, effective communication and cooperation, which can be beneficial during their employment opportunities, thereby benefiting practical skills later.
In conclusion, I partly agree that educational industry only spends more time on learning facts and not enough time for professional skills. I believe they should balance between them because both are equally important in individuals lives.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay presents arguments for both sides, the points remain somewhat superficial and lack the depth required for a higher band. For instance, the discussion on 'practical skills' is repetitive and lacks concrete examples of how these skills are applied in a professional context. Because the response is under-length, the development of the argument is curtailed, leading to a lower score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression from the introduction to the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Consequently' are used to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by grammatical errors. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the overall structure feels slightly underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a more robust internal structure with clearer topic sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their opinion clearly. There are some attempts at more sophisticated vocabulary, such as 'indispensable role' and 'theoretical knowledge.' However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'educational industry' and 'mandatorily participated,' which are not natural collocations. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and the repetition of words like 'practical' and 'skills' suggests a need for a wider variety of synonyms and more precise terminology to convey ideas more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('historical facts... helps students'), incorrect verb forms ('students are mandatorily participated'), and awkward phrasing ('learn distinguishing between'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring correct passive voice construction would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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