Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01

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 debated whether practical skills are more important at all levels of education or whether theoretical knowledge is needed. I agree that practical skills are in real demand; however, factual knowledge is also essential, and I will discuss this further in the following paragraphs.

On the one hand, in this contemporary society, practical skills are crucial as they are needed in work life as well as in the upper classes, because if someone is good at memorizing written facts but does not know how to present them in front of someone, it is not worth their knowledge. In addition to this, practical skills, such as communication skills, presence of mind, and teamwork, which are used at work, do not come through bookish knowledge. You can learn them through real life practices and which can easily be taught by teachers at school and university levels, so that students can be prepared for their careers.

On the other hand, some people say that written facts are substantial because without them you cannot get good grades in exams. For example, if you do not know the science equation, you would not be able to perform the practical in the lab. So, in this context, teachers must know how to prepare students in a way that they know how to present facts in a practical.

I agree with the view that practical skills are more important because some students are good at memorizing answers for exams, but they keep them in mind for a certain period of time; however, practical skills will be there throughout life.

In conclusion, with the help of teachers and by applying a balanced approach, students can learn facts and apply them practically in real-life challenges, as they will be needed more at work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that practical skills are more important. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the argument regarding the necessity of practical skills in the workplace is relevant, the discussion on theoretical knowledge is slightly underdeveloped. For instance, the example of a 'science equation' is a good start, but it lacks depth in explaining how this bridges the gap between theory and practice. The essay maintains a consistent position throughout, but the conclusion introduces a 'balanced approach' that slightly contradicts the earlier stance that practical skills are 'more important'. To reach a higher band, ensure that all supporting arguments are fully extended and consistently aligned with your thesis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition to this,' and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there is occasional repetition of phrasing. For example, the link between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother to better contrast the two perspectives. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a solid band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use some good collocations like 'contemporary society,' 'balanced approach,' and 'real-life challenges.' However, there is a reliance on simpler, repetitive phrasing such as 'bookish knowledge' and 'written facts.' To improve, you should aim for more precise academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'not worth their knowledge,' a more sophisticated expression would be 'their theoretical knowledge is rendered ineffective.' The range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, which is positive. However, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'which can easily be taught' (a relative clause fragment) and 'they know how to present facts in a practical' (where 'practical' is used as a noun, which is non-standard). Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentences are slightly clunky due to word order. To move to a higher band, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring that your use of relative clauses and prepositions is consistently accurate.

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

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