Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-23

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

News stories on TV and in newspapers are very often accompanied by pictures.

Some people say that these pictures are more effective than words.

What is your opinion about this?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is often seen that news are more published graphically than explained through typing. Some people consider this method is more effective as compare to expressing everything in words. I believe both have demerits over each other. This essay will elaborate both view prior reaching to a valuable conclusion.

On the hand, the supporter hold an effective point why picture are beneficial in newspapers or stories. Pictures attract attention of readers and make understanding of story behind the news clear. For example: If somebody is looking for specific news in paper than it would be easy to found with the help of picture. In addition to this, News including picture saves time. This is because half of the part individual can imagine from the picture to get whole scenario, whereas written news will take more time. Moreover, it help in developing cognitive skills such as imagination and creative thinking.

On the other hand, reading enhance language proficiency. This is due to constant exposer to different words. For example: After reading same vocabulary everyday, individual become able to include those words in daily routine.

In conclusion,

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 185 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you attempt to address both sides of the argument, the conclusion is incomplete, and the discussion lacks the depth required for a higher band. The points made, such as pictures aiding cognitive skills or reading enhancing language, are mentioned but not sufficiently supported with detailed examples or logical expansion. To improve, you must ensure you fully develop your arguments and provide a complete, well-structured conclusion that synthesizes your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'In addition to this' to organize ideas. However, the progression is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is attempted, but the final paragraph is cut off, which disrupts the overall flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'the supporter hold an effective point', where the subject is vague. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and a logical conclusion that connects back to the prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'news are more published graphically' instead of 'news is often presented visually' and 'typing' instead of 'text'. You also use 'exposer' instead of 'exposure'. While your meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of these errors limit your score. Focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('picture are', 'News including picture saves'), article misuse ('in paper'), and incorrect word forms ('reading enhance'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization, article usage, and subject-verb agreement. Practicing complex sentence structures like relative clauses or conditional sentences will also help improve your range, provided you focus on accuracy.

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

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