Band 5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Living Alone Essay: Clarity and Structure Issues
Sample Answer with Feedback

📅 Published Apr 2026⏱️ 40 minutes recommended📝 309 words · Band 5
This Band 5 IELTS essay discusses both sides of living alone but lacks clarity in expressing a definitive opinion. Key feedback highlights issues in structure and coherence, suggesting areas for improvement.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Question

Agree/ Disagree (Opinion) · Living Alone · 40 min


In some countries, more and more people are opting to live alone these days than before. Do you think this is a positive or negative development? 

Write at least 250 words.



5Band

Overall Band Score

309 words · Agree/ Disagree (Opinion) · AI Evaluated

5
Task Response
4.5
Grammar
4.5
Vocabulary
5
Coherence

Score Breakdown

IELTS Writing Band Scores (1–9)

Overall Band Score
5
Task Response
5
Grammatical Range & Accuracy
4.5
Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
4.5
Coherence & Cohesion
5

Summary: The essay meets the word count requirement (309 words) and addresses the topic by discussing both positive and negative aspects of living alone. However, it lacks a clear position on whether this is a positive or negative development, which limits task response. Vocabulary is basic and informal with spelling errors, and grammatical inaccuracies are frequent. The structure is present but coherence could be improved.

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Student Answer
Real submission • 309 words • Annotated
309 wordsBand 5WritingPart2
● Spelling● Grammar● Vocabulary

There is no denying that living alone is everywhere around the world because it's really important. Most people support thid idea as it has some good points. But some folks want to talk about the bad stuff first. In the paragraph ahead, I'm" title="Correction: I'm">i'm going to talk about both favourable and unfavourable parts of this.

Starting with good, one big benefit is that we have free will to do whatever we want as well as we can enjoy our personal space. Let's take an example to explain, i want to watch a movie. If i go to the cinema hall, i shall find a crowd of people and the surrounding environment feels full of choas . On the other hand, i could not concentrate on movie's climex . But if i am watching it alone at home, I am able to read" title="Correction: I am able to read">i am able read the whole story as well as enjoy too. Another good thing is that it gives us time to understand ourselves better. For example, when I sit alone and think about my goals, I feel more focused and clear about my future. Another benefit is that it helps improve concentration. For instance, studying alone in a quiet room helps me learn faster without distraction.

In constrast, there are some downsides that make it a bit of problem. First, there's loneliness. For example, my neighbor felt very sad after moving to a new place where she didn’t know anyone. Also there's is overthinking . For instance, think about living alone and potentially getting negative thoughts. You are looking for a person to share thoughts but you can't find a fly.

In conclusion, it's clear that there are both advantages and disadvantages about living alone. In my opinion, we shouldn't ignore this idea. We need to undestand both positive as well as negative aspects to make smart choices in our changing world.

AI Feedback Report Details

Spelling · Grammar · Vocabulary · Criteria Analysis

Spelling Mistakes

6 errors
Misspelled WordCorrected Word
thidthis
choaschaos
climexclimax
undestandunderstand
flyanyone
constrastcontrast

Grammatical Mistakes

7 errors
MistakeCorrectionExplanation
i'mI'mCapitalization: first person pronoun should be capitalized
iICapitalization: 'I' should always be capitalized
i am able readI am able to readMissing infinitive 'to' after 'able'
as well as enjoy tooand enjoy it as wellAwkward phrasing; missing object and redundant 'too'
there's isthere isRedundant use of 'is'; 'there's' is a contraction for 'there is'
make it a bit of problemmake it somewhat problematicIncorrect phrase; 'a bit of problem' is non-standard, use 'somewhat problematic'
advantages and disadvantages aboutadvantages and disadvantages ofPreposition misuse; 'of' is used to indicate relation

Vocabulary Improvements

9 suggestions
Original Word/PhraseImproved Word/PhraseExplanation
folkspeopleToo informal; 'people' is more appropriate for academic writing
bad stuffdisadvantagesInformal; 'disadvantages' is more precise and formal
big benefitsignificant advantageVague; 'significant advantage' is more academic
free willfreedomContextual inaccuracy; 'freedom' is more suitable for personal autonomy
cinema hallcinemaNon-standard term; 'cinema' or 'movie theater' is commonly used
full of chaoschaoticWordy; 'chaotic' is more concise and appropriate
downsidesdisadvantagesInformal; 'disadvantages' is preferred in formal writing
you can't find a flyyou cannot find anyoneIncorrect word; 'fly' is not idiomatic; use 'anyone' for clarity
smart choicesinformed decisionsInformal; 'informed decisions' is more academic

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Detailed Criteria Feedback

AI-powered analysis for each scoring criterion

Task Response5
Evaluation
The essay presents both sides of the argument but does not clearly state the writer's opinion on whether living alone is a positive or negative development. Relevant points are made but are underdeveloped.
Examples
The introduction states 'i'm going to talk about both favourable and unfavourable parts' and the conclusion says 'we need to understand both positive as well as negative aspects' without taking a definitive stance.
How to Improve
Clearly express your opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Develop arguments more fully with specific examples and analysis to support your position throughout the essay.
Coherence & Cohesion5
Evaluation
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. However, cohesion is weakened by informal transitions and some awkward phrasing.
Examples
Informal phrases like 'In the paragraph ahead' and misspelled transitions like 'In constrast' (should be 'In contrast'). The flow between ideas is sometimes disjointed, e.g., the example about watching a movie jumps between cinema and home without smooth linking.
How to Improve
Use formal cohesive devices (e.g., 'Furthermore,' 'On the other hand,' 'In addition') to connect ideas. Ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that ideas progress logically.
Lexical Resource4.5
Evaluation
Vocabulary is limited and often informal, with several spelling errors and inappropriate word choices. The range of lexical items is basic.
Examples
Informal terms: 'folks,' 'good stuff,' 'bad stuff.' Spelling errors: 'thid' (this), 'choas' (chaos), 'climex' (climax), 'undestand' (understand). Inaccurate idiom: 'you can't find a fly' (likely meant 'you can't find anyone').
How to Improve
Expand your vocabulary by reading academic texts and learning formal synonyms. Practice spelling and use a dictionary. Avoid colloquial expressions in academic writing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy4.5
Evaluation
Grammatical errors are frequent, with simple sentence structures and issues in punctuation, verb forms, and capitalization.
Examples
Capitalization errors: 'i' instead of 'I' throughout. Grammatical errors: 'there's is overthinking' (should be 'there is overthinking'), 'i could not concentrate on movie's climex' (awkward structure). Incorrect sentence: 'You are looking for a person to share thoughts but you can't find a fly.'
How to Improve
Work on using a variety of sentence structures (simple, compound, complex). Focus on grammar rules, especially subject-verb agreement and tense consistency. Proofread carefully for errors in punctuation and capitalization.
💡
Tip: Review the Band 9 model answer to see how a high-scoring essay structures arguments, uses advanced vocabulary, and maintains coherence throughout.

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