Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-05
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)
Some people believe that more time is spent on therotical knowledge rather than practical skills from primary level of education to collage universities.I agree with the view that only bookish knowledge is not enough to learn any subject.Schools and universities should focus on including practical labs in the curriculum.
These days most of the schools and universities include more theory subjects than practical labs.This kind of syllabus would not me much beneficial for the students when they complete their education and try to find job.Job market is really tough for the students who only have academic knowledge.for example, students who have only book knowledge would not be able to clear different levels of interview process.such as, these days employers are conducting different levels of tests that include apptitude,technical and practical tests.Students who are bond only to book may not be able to clear practical round of interview.
Furthermore,If we see the system of education in abroad, the syllabus only includes the theory and very less labs for the theory subjects.schools and universities must maintain the balance between academic and practical education.Practical knowledge helps students to progress further for higher studies and develop skills such as communication,problem solving,teamwork and basic life skills.
To conclude,I believe that schools and colleges can have good academic syllabus ,but they should balance
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| 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, ending at 217 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While the main arguments regarding the job market and the need for a balanced curriculum are relevant, they remain under-developed. The conclusion is also incomplete, which prevents a full exploration of the topic. To improve, you must expand your supporting points with more detailed examples and ensure the essay reaches the required length to allow for a comprehensive discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic logical flow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. Additionally, the essay ends mid-sentence in the conclusion, which disrupts the overall coherence. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to the main argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on repetitive phrasing, such as 'schools and universities' and 'bookish/book knowledge'. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'bond only to book' (should be 'bound') and 'me much beneficial' (should be 'be'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'from primary level of education to collage universities' (spelling and article usage), 'If we see the system of education in abroad' (preposition error), and missing spaces after periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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