Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It is often argued that educational institutes devotes an excessive amount of time to theoretical knowledge to increase academic achievements that they forget the importance of practical knowledge which can be helpful in real life experience. I completely agree that schools are often too concentrated in repetitive learning that they oversee the importance of factual learning which if foundation for a child.

One major reason why I agree is that many students leave school learning theoretical education, memorizing subjects and preparing for exams to receive good grades but they lack practical knowledge negotiation or finding the solution in real scenario. For Instance, a child can remember a mathematics equation or chemical formula for getting distention but he will lack in practices for taxation, managing finances or online banking which is equally important.

Furthermore, a student who studies hard will get academic scholarships but it will be hard for negotiating a job in his field. Educational institutions should add more programmes where a student can get hands-on experience, like internships, debates or group projects etc.

Employers these days value a person more who have previous experience and problem solving skills for a job.

Nevertheless, factual knowledge should not be neglected entirely, as it is also important to learn the subjects like maths, science and history so a child can decide, what he wants to peruse in forcible future. But practical knowledge is also important so there should be a balance between both.

In conclusion, I largely agree the education currently places too much emphasis on factual knowledge. While academic learning is irreplaceable schools and universities should also prepare students for practical skills which can help them to get a job or to start their own business in future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt and maintained a consistent position throughout the essay. You identify the problem of over-emphasizing theory and provide relevant examples, such as taxation and online banking, to support your argument. However, there is a slight contradiction in your introduction where you state you agree that schools 'oversee the importance of factual learning,' which seems to contradict your main argument that schools focus too much on facts. Despite this, the main ideas are well-developed and the conclusion effectively summarizes your stance. To reach a higher band, ensure your introductory thesis statement is perfectly aligned with your supporting arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use transition signals such as 'One major reason,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Nevertheless' to guide the reader. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where referencing is slightly unclear, such as the pronoun usage in the first paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly rather than relying on standard sentence starters.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge,' 'hands-on experience,' and 'academic scholarships.' However, there are several word-choice errors and awkward collocations that hinder precision. For example, you use 'distention' (likely meaning distinction) and 'peruse' (likely meaning pursue). Additionally, 'oversee' is used incorrectly in the context of 'overlook.' While these errors do not impede overall communication, they indicate a need for more careful vocabulary selection and proofreading to ensure words are used in their correct context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('educational institutes devotes') and missing articles ('in real scenario'). Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'a child can remember a mathematics equation... for getting distention.' While you show an ability to construct complex sentences, the frequency of minor errors in grammar and punctuation prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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