Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In my opinion, more time is spent on learning facts than on practical skills in education. I have observed that since a child is admitted in schools he/she starts learning, manytimes it is also seen that students just try to learn syllabus but if we ask them to apply same thing in practical life they fail.

I feel that students are cramming their syllabus in order to achieve more marks and get success in life. I also think that just cramming up their syllabus is not a key to their success, because whatever a child mugs up will only stay for some time, but if he/she understands the concept and then applies it to their lives, then they will definitely become successful in life. Even our education system needs to be changed because our teachers are teaching students how to cram answers and write the same on answer sheet. Instead of that teachers should teach their students what the basic concept is, how it can be implemented in our daily lives, what can we learn from it.

For example, lets suppose my teacher taught me time management, for getting good marks I learnt the concept and in exam I wrote that learnt answer, now if I get any situation where I have less time, less resources and I need to finish all my tasks within time, I don't know how will I do because my teacher never taught how can I practically do it. But if she taught me that I need to prioritize the tasks from all tasks depending on the time and situation which thing is of more importance and needs to be finished asap, I can take decision promptly and start working on it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have clearly stated your position and addressed the prompt by arguing that education focuses too heavily on rote learning rather than practical application. The ideas are relevant and supported by a personal example regarding time management. However, the response lacks a formal structure, such as a clear introduction and conclusion, and the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. To reach a higher band, ensure you explore the implications of your argument more deeply and provide a more balanced view or a more structured analysis of why this shift in education is necessary, rather than focusing primarily on the negative aspect of 'cramming'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is coherent in its overall argument, but the paragraphing is problematic. The response is essentially one long block of text, which makes it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of your argument. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Instead of that' and 'For example', the transitions between sentences are often mechanical or abrupt. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks to separate your introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Additionally, try to use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and informal. Phrases like 'cramming their syllabus', 'mugs up', and 'get success in life' are either informal or lack the precision expected in an IELTS essay. You rely on basic vocabulary to express your ideas. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more academic collocations and precise terminology. For instance, instead of 'cramming', you could use 'rote memorisation', and instead of 'get success', you could use 'attain professional success' or 'achieve academic excellence'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include 'since a child is admitted in schools he/she starts learning' (missing articles and awkward phrasing) and 'the same thing' (should be 'the same concepts'). There are also issues with punctuation and run-on sentences. While your meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring your complex sentences are punctuated correctly.

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

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