Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-18
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)
There is a ongoing debate regarding so many pictures in newspapers instead of actual written news. A group of individuals believe that pictures have positive impacts. However, others claim that, it is not necessary to have so many pictures in newspaper. Examining the former opinion, I will discussed my both views in different paragraphs with relavent examples.
The primary argument that supporters would put forward is attention. They believe that pictures are making easy for reader to pay their attention on different topics in newspaper. Sometime, we skip important news becasue alphabets are very small and they do not highligts some imporatnt headings.For instense, some grocery shops print big pictures of items that are on deal and when we only notice that picture we instantly pay our intention on that specific picture without even reading full information.
On the contrary, those in the favour of latter opinion, they argue that printing high quantity of pictures in newspaper are direct wastage of ink. They believe, it make newspaper more expensive and some time pictures are misleading people by fake editing.In addition, pictures cover more space in newspaer and due to this we miss so many other important information.
In my opinion, I believe pictures are important for newspapers because they play their vital role to take attention of any reader. Some time individual have not enough time due to thier hectic schedule but images make it more convient to read latest update.
To conclude and offer my position, it can be said that, there are convincing arguments both for and against, I certainly, in the favour of pictures in newspaper because they play significant role for the reader.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing whether pictures are more effective than words in news media and presenting a clear personal position. The introduction states the writer's view, though the phrasing 'I will discussed my both views' is slightly confused in intent. Ideas are developed across the body paragraphs, covering arguments for and against visual media. For instance, the writer points out that images help capture attention and make reading convenient for busy individuals, while also noting drawbacks such as ink wastage and space constraints. However, some arguments lack deep extension, and the conclusion is slightly repetitive regarding the writer's stance. Overall, the performance aligns well with the requirements for Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, separating the introduction, two body paragraphs, a personal opinion paragraph, and a conclusion. However, cohesion is frequently mechanical or faulty. Cohesive devices are sometimes used awkwardly, such as 'Examining the former opinion' and 'On the contrary, those in the favour of latter opinion'. Referencing and logical transitions between sentences occasionally break down, as seen in the slightly abrupt sentence transitions within the body paragraphs. Paragraphing is present and structurally attempts to organise the ideas logically, but the lack of smooth, flexible linking devices keeps this criterion at a Band 5.5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'hectic schedule' and 'misleading people by fake editing'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and inappropriate word choices throughout the text, including 'There is a ongoing debate', 'make it more convient', and 'take attention of any reader' instead of 'catch the attention'. Spelling errors are also present, such as 'relavent', 'becasue', 'highligts', 'imporatnt', 'incedently', and 'newspaer'. While communication is not severely impeded, these repeated vocabulary and spelling inaccuracies restrict the score to Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some capability to construct multi-clause sentences. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement, articles, and preposition usage. Examples include 'I will discussed my both views' (tense and modifier error), 'pictures are making easy for reader' (missing article and structure error), 'printing high quantity of pictures... are direct wastage' (agreement error), and 'Some time individual have not enough time' (plural/singular mismatch). Punctuation is also erratic in places with spacing issues around commas and periods. These persistent errors place the writing firmly in the Band 5.0 category.
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