Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-26

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)

In recent years, pictures in newspaper and on T.V. has became a widely detailed issue. Some people believe that photoes are effective, while others argue that words are more convincing. While both perspectives have some validity, I believe that news with pictures are better. This essay will dicuss both the views before presenting my opinion.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why some people believe that updates from whole world in words is better. One of the main reason is they find it is diverting your attention in reading the news. This is mainly because of the distraction, which a photo can make in reading. As a result, you will not able to read the whole update in the newspapers. For instance, an individual is reading the newspaper and at the same if the picture was there he/she will get distracted by the pictures therefore he/she will forget whatever he/she read.

On the other hand, others argue that digital news are more convincing. One major reason is that by seeing the photo anybody undestand the whole news within couple of seconds. This is largely because pictures are easy to remember than words. Consequently, everybody like news with the photo. For example, a boy is reading a book with diagram, he can remember that thing very easily and can remember for long time. I find this view more convincing because reading is litlle boring without any pictures. Thus to make learning more effective pictures are needed.

In conclusion, while some people support news stories with photoes because they find easy to capture evrything, others favour that it is not effective due to distraction. In my view, reading with photo is convincing because its makes the subject more interesting.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the question and state a clear preference for news accompanied by pictures, while also presenting a contrasting view. The main supporting point—that images can communicate information quickly and be easier to remember—is relevant, and the example of a diagram helps illustrate this. However, the opposing argument is not fully convincing: the claim that pictures distract readers is repeated through a hypothetical example rather than developed with a clear reason or evidence. Your discussion also shifts from news stories to reading a book and learning, so the example does not directly support your opinion about news. Develop both sides more specifically and explain why pictures improve understanding of news.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting different views, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” make the overall direction easy to follow. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and ideas are not always linked clearly. For example, the first body paragraph moves from distraction to forgetting what was read without explaining the connection, while the second moves from understanding news quickly to remembering a diagram and then to learning. Some references, including “that thing” and “it,” are vague. Use clearer links between each claim and its explanation, and ensure examples directly support the paragraph’s main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “distraction,” “convincing,” “effective,” and “remember,” and the reader can generally understand your position. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive. Examples include “widely detailed issue,” “updates from whole world in words,” and “news with the photo”; these expressions sound unnatural or imprecise. Spelling errors such as “photoes,” “undestand,” and “evrything” also reduce accuracy. Aim to use more precise topic language and check spelling carefully. For instance, describe images as helping readers “grasp the main event quickly” rather than saying they understand “the whole news.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession in the introduction and clauses beginning “because” and “while.” However, errors occur frequently, and some sentences are difficult to process. For example, “pictures in newspaper and on T.V. has became” has problems with articles, agreement, and verb form; “you will not able to read” is missing “be”; and “everybody like news” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. The long sentence beginning “For instance, an individual is reading…” also has an unclear conditional structure and punctuation. Practise accurate present-tense agreement, articles, and complete verb phrases, and break long examples into shorter sentences. This will make your meaning more consistently clear.

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