Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-06

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 7.0)

While critics argue that formal education systems allocate too much time to theoretical study rather than practical skills, I completely disagree with this assertion. A solid grounding in theory is essential before undertaking practical tasks, and current curricula generally maintain an appropriate balance.

On the one hand, one of most important aspects of learning is that without mastering underlying principles, concepts, and safety guidelines, it is possible to say that students risk making fundamental errors or performing tasks blindly without understanding the underlying logic. For instance, in fields like medicine or engineering, trainees must thoroughly study anatomy or structural mechanics in classroom sessions before performing surgical procedures or designing infrastructure. Therefore, time spent on theoretical learning is essential.

On the other hand, modern educational institutions already design their curricula to balance classroom theory with practical experience based on the demands of each discipline. While abstract subjects naturally require extensive theoretical analysis, technical and vocational courses allocate substantial hours to hands-on workshops, lab work, and internships. For example, many contemporary certification courses incorporate mandatory practical internships alongside theoretical coursework, ensuring students gain direct workplace exposure.

All in all , allocating appropriate classroom time to master underlying theoretical concepts is far from an unproductive delay, but rather serves as a vital safeguard that prevents costly real-world errors, ensures personal safety, and ultimately equips students with the necessary confidence to perform complex practical duties successfully.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay presents a clear position throughout and addresses the prompt effectively. The arguments regarding the necessity of theoretical foundations in fields like medicine and engineering are well-supported with relevant examples. However, the response is 232 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the response feels slightly truncated and lacks the depth required for a higher band score. While the ideas are relevant and the position is consistent, the failure to meet the length constraint necessitates a penalty in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, the student could incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the transition between the theoretical and practical aspects is even more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and precise, with good use of academic collocations such as 'solid grounding', 'underlying principles', and 'theoretical analysis'. The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey complex ideas clearly. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. To improve further, the student could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to demonstrate a higher level of lexical flexibility, though the current range is sufficient for a solid band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong. For example, the use of conditional structures and complex noun phrases is accurate. There is a minor error in the first sentence of the second paragraph ('one of most important aspects'), which is a missing article. Despite this, the grammatical control is consistent, and the errors are rare and do not interfere with the clarity of the message.

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

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