Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-14

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 in all levels of education, from primary schools to higher level educations, they like to spend most of their time on theoretical areas rather than strong their practical skills. This essay agree with this statement as it results in lack of knowledge and lack of jobs and opportunities.

On the one hand, as schools put their more focus on theory, it results in lack of knowledge and ideas. Most of the children if they have strong writing skills, it can helps them to get good marks but it does not assist them to achieve good practical skills. For instance, if any science project held in the school, the teacher explain that on the blackboard. As a result, students can write them in exams but in practical class they do not able to perform.

On the other hand, secondary schools and universities pay more attention to grades, it results in lack of skills. For example, A physiotherapist student also needs good marks but should more practical. As they have to treat the patient manually, give mobilization, manipulation and has to presecribe an exercises. He must have more practical knowledge than theoretical. If scholars does not have put attention to practical. it results in lack of jobs and do not get more opportunities in the future.

In conclusion, schools and universities should pay attention to both theory and practical. Because it helps students to have further greater opportunities in the future, also it can help them in the abroad. But if does not pay attention to practical skills, it results in unemployment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you agree that education gives too much attention to theory, and you address both school and university settings. The science-project example and the physiotherapy example are relevant and help explain why practical learning matters. However, some points are asserted rather than fully developed. For instance, the claim that theory leads to a “lack of knowledge” is not clearly explained, and the link between practical skills and future employment could use a specific illustration. The conclusion introduces a balanced recommendation to teach both areas, but the essay could clarify whether this qualifies your agreement or simply supports it. Develop each main idea with a clearer explanation and a concrete consequence.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, two body paragraphs signposted by “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. The examples generally appear in the paragraphs where readers expect them. However, the progression within some paragraphs is not always clear. In the first body paragraph, the move from writing skills to a science project needs a more explicit connection. The second paragraph also shifts from grades to physiotherapy practice and then employment without fully explaining each link. Phrases such as “As a result” and “Because” help connect ideas, but their use can feel mechanical, and the final “Because” sentence is a fragment. Use clearer references and explain how each example supports the paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “theoretical,” “practical skills,” “grades,” “mobilization,” and “manipulation,” which helps communicate the subject and gives the physiotherapy example some specificity. The range is adequate for the task, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “strong their practical skills,” “higher level educations,” and “pay more attention to grades.” There are also spelling and word-form problems, including “presecribe” and “an exercises.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding your main argument, but they reduce precision and fluency. Aim to learn common academic collocations and check spelling and word forms carefully, especially in the specialist example.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “if any science project held in the school” and clauses beginning with “As.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “This essay agree,” “it can helps,” and “students … do not able to perform,” which show problems with subject–verb agreement and verb forms. The sentence beginning “If scholars does not have put attention” also combines an incorrect subject form with an unclear verb construction. Some punctuation choices create fragments, notably “Because it helps students…” and “If scholars does not have put attention to practical.” Practise building accurate clauses first, then extend them with subordinate clauses and check agreement and verb forms.

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