Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-25

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The ethical implications of capital punishment have long been a subject of intense societal and legal debate. The proposition that executing murderers forces society into a hypocritical position, thereby making life imprisonment a vastly superior alternative, resonates profoundly. I fundamentally agree with this perspective, arguing that state-sanctioned executions undermine the moral authority of the justice system and that lifelong incarceration offers a more humane, yet equally robust, form of retribution.

The core argument against the death penalty rests on its inherent moral paradox. When a legal framework employs killing to penalize murder, it inherently devalues human life and mirrors the brutality of the offender. This practice reduces the state to the level of the criminal it seeks to judge. Additionally, the irremediable nature of execution clashes disastrously with the fallibility of human institutions. Even the most sophisticated legal systems are susceptible to prejudice, perjury, and flawed forensics. The execution of even a single innocent person constitutes a catastrophic failure of justice, representing a risk so grave that it invalidate the practice entirely.

By contrast, consigning an offender to life in prison unequivocally fulfills the mandate of the penal system without traversing ethical boundaries. Primarily, it guarantees societal protection by permanently neutralizing the threat the individual poses. Furthermore, an entire liftime spent in the austere environment of a penitentiary represents a devastating loss of autonom and potential. This enduring deprivation of freedom compels the perpetrator to reckon with their actions over decades, serving as a protracted and deeply punitive measure that many consider far more agonizing than a swift execution.

In summary, the continued use of the death penalty is an archaic practice that implicates society in the very crime it attempts to punish. Relying on life imprisonment represents a more evolved, philosophically sound approach, ensuring maximum public safety and sever

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for a discussion on whether films should be watched in cinemas versus on mobile devices. However, the essay discusses the ethical implications of capital punishment. As the student failed to address the task prompt entirely, the score for Task Achievement is severely impacted. While the ideas are well-developed in a vacuum, they do not relate to the provided instructions, resulting in a failure to fulfill the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Despite the off-topic content, the essay demonstrates a high level of structural control. The text is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'By contrast', and 'In summary' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow, showing a strong grasp of paragraphing and discourse markers, even though the subject matter is irrelevant to the prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise, demonstrating a wide range of academic language. Phrases such as 'inherent moral paradox', 'irremediable nature', and 'austere environment' show a high level of lexical control. There are minor spelling errors, such as 'liftime' and 'autonom', but these do not impede communication. The student clearly possesses a strong command of English vocabulary, though it was applied to the wrong topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures, including conditional clauses and sophisticated sentence subordination. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and syntax is impressive. While there is a minor error in 'invalidate' (should be 'invalidates') and an incomplete final sentence, the overall grammatical accuracy is high. The student demonstrates the ability to use complex structures with flexibility and precision.

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