Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-28

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)

It is often argued that institutions place greater emphasis on educating learning facts compared to teaching practical skills to the students in all levels of education. I completely disagree with the given statement because students from preschool and university are taught with a practical approach for their career growth although a small portion of time is essential to teach them with theoretical concepts.

The most significant reason to agree with this view is that during preschool, teachers teach fundamental concepts such as numbers and letters using various activities instead of focusing solely on theoretical knowledge. As a results, students at young age find it extremely convenient to learn basic concepts.

On the other hand, it is inevitable to spend some time in teaching some theories to the students. This is particularly evident in the secondary education, where it is extremely valuable to teach subjects related to language and history, where there is very little or no need to acquire any practical skills. However, during universities, students must learn practical knowledge from professionals in order to find employment. For instance, in medical science and engineering courses, several laboratories are utilized to train students with hands on experimentation. This is primarily because extensive practical knowledge is required to perform their duties in the professional setting for several professions such as technicians, electricians, doctors, mechanics, construction workers, and other skill related occupations. Therefore, it is essential to provide vocational training among the students to help them perform their roles and responsibilities later in their life.

Overall, although theoretical knowledge is significant for language and history related subjects, a large portion of time is usually spent by all institutions to train students with practical skills.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have provided relevant examples, such as medical and engineering courses, to support your argument. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention preschool and university, the transition between these levels is a bit abrupt. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph fully explores the implications of your argument rather than just listing examples. The conclusion is a bit contradictory to your thesis statement, as it suggests institutions already focus on practical skills, which slightly undermines your initial disagreement with the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the logical flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences could be better linked to improve the overall flow of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, which helps the reader follow your argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'fundamental concepts', 'vocational training', and 'professional setting'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'educating learning facts' (which is redundant) and 'students at young age' (should be 'at a young age'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the overall range is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The current vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly without causing confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'As a results' (should be 'As a result') and 'in the secondary education' (should be 'in secondary education'). Additionally, some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'provide vocational training among the students'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, focus on increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and refining your control over articles and prepositions, which are currently the main sources of your grammatical slips.

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

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