Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-07

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 5.0)

In recent years, this topic has become a subject of considerable debate. I acknowleged the topic in education, we spent much time on learning facts and not enough on learning practical skills. From my perspective, one main reason is that we focus on taking grades and scores instead of knowledge and excellence. In modern era, we often say those students who get scores even they don't know about subject are the competent. It is undeniably concept is that practical is far away different than just learning facts and figures. No doubt it would entirely depend on subjects, like some concepts we have to just remember and we can't use in practical life. For instance, through history we cannot enhance practical skills, but we can learn and gain knowledge for future.

Another factor is that in schools and colleges, we study books just for gaining knowlege and scores. We didn't examine scientific or empirical analysis. Our education just focus on theoretical papers, that's why we are in underdeveloped country and our economy is going down with the passage of time. From my own example, in 10th standard I got 100% marks in physics but practically I could not obtain much marks due to less experience. At that time unfortunately I feel shame.

In the conclusion, I would like to assert that, in all levels of education we are

not much more focusing on practical skills due to unawareness and scores race. Some teachers also not well aware of practicals and don't have much experience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You take a generally clear position that education gives too much attention to facts and scores, and your physics experience is a relevant example of the gap between exam results and practical ability. You also acknowledge that some subjects, such as history, may not develop practical skills directly. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the reasons about grades, theoretical study and teachers’ experience overlap, and claims such as the link between theoretical education and a declining economy need explanation or evidence. The conclusion restates your view but does not add a developed final insight. The response is 243 words, seven words below the 250-word minimum; the 10 words copied from the prompt are not counted. Develop one or two reasons more fully and meet the minimum.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an opening position, two body paragraphs with supporting points, and a conclusion. The physics example is placed in the second body paragraph, where it supports the discussion of theory versus practice. However, progression between ideas is not always clear. The first paragraph moves from grades to practical learning, then to history, without fully explaining how each point connects to your main argument. Linking phrases such as “Another factor” and “In the conclusion” help signal stages, but the connections can feel mechanical, and some references are unclear. For example, “At that time” does not specify exactly when the writer felt shame. Organise each paragraph around one main reason and use clearer links between claim, explanation and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “practical skills,” “grades and scores,” “theoretical papers” and “empirical analysis,” so the reader can follow the general subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, sometimes making the meaning difficult to interpret. For example, “taking grades,” “the competent” and “practical is far away different” do not express the intended ideas clearly. There are also spelling errors such as “acknowleged” and “knowlege.” Aim to use precise, natural phrases for academic assessment and hands-on learning, and check spelling carefully. Replacing repeated references to scores with more varied, accurate vocabulary would also make the argument clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional structure in “some concepts we have to just remember and we can't use in practical life” and a contrast introduced by “but.” However, complex attempts are often faulty, and frequent errors in sentence structure, verb forms, agreement and articles can make the reader work to understand your meaning. For example, “I acknowleged the topic in education, we spent much time” joins ideas incorrectly, while “Our education just focus” has an agreement error. “In modern era” also lacks an article, and “Some teachers also not well aware” is missing a verb. Practise building complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, then check agreement, tense and articles during revision.

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