Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-27

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)

It is undoubtedly true that education time is the key to success, that is why some individual believe that too much attention is being wasted in learning facts than in learning practical skills. This essay will write strongly in agreement with the statement, and also try to balance the thoughts.

Firstly, in primary school, basic learning is what is been taught to the students because kids learn faster while watching television. Although, some schools do not have T.V for the kids, they most times sing some cartoon song for them. For example, my little niece likes to watch alphabet cartoon more than watching normal cartoon like Tom and Jerry.

Again, in secondary and university section, they spend more time in theory than in practical. In Africa for example theory has been their best practice, a school might have up to 50 classroom for tutoring students but they will not have one room for practical section. They gives public notes to copy, giving them instructions how to disinfect their houses or how to cook a meal without show they the life practical.

Moreover, the gains of practicality are seen in nations that place adequate emphas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 194 words long and ends abruptly mid-sentence. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the essay attempts to address the prompt by arguing for a balance between theory and practice, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient supporting evidence. The position is clear, but the lack of completion prevents a full exploration of the topic. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full introduction, well-supported body paragraphs, and a clear conclusion, while meeting the length requirement to allow for a thorough discussion of the issues.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Again', and 'Moreover' to signal the progression of ideas. However, the logical flow is hampered by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is cut off, which disrupts the overall structure. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between primary education and television is not fully explained. To improve, focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by coherent supporting points that lead to a logical conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'theory has been their best practice' and 'show they the life practical'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly opaque. You rely on simple, repetitive vocabulary rather than attempting more sophisticated or topic-specific terminology. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to education and pedagogy, and pay closer attention to collocations and word forms to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.

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 affect clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('some individual believe'), incorrect verb forms ('what is been taught'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally understandable, these recurring errors indicate a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions. Proofreading your work for these common errors before finishing will help improve the overall accuracy of your writing.

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

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