This Band 6 IELTS Writing Task 2 essay discusses the role of museums in education versus entertainment. While it meets the word count, it has notable shortcomings in idea development and coherence that could be improved for a higher band score.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Question
Discuss both views · Museums · 40 min
Some people believe that the purpose of museums is to educate people, while others think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people. What is your view on this issue? Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
Score Breakdown
IELTS Writing Band Scores (1–9)
Summary: The essay meets the minimum word count (293 words) and addresses the task by discussing both views and giving an opinion. However, the arguments are underdeveloped, with limited depth and support, and there are issues in coherence, vocabulary, and grammar that prevent higher scores.
Now write your own — and see how your verdict holds up.
Submit your Museums essay and receive AI scores across Task Response, Coherence, Lexical Resource, and Grammar — plus a Band 9 model answer for your exact question.
Many people think that a museum is a place to educate visitors, while others believe that a museum sets its purpose as an enjoyable place to entertain the people who visit. Although the latter opinion can be beneficial in other ways, I believe that a museum should be an educational place where people can take their time to understand the moral of each piece" title="Correction: the moral of each piece">the moral from each piece presented in the museum.
When people hear the word 'museum', they think about paintings such as the Mona Lisa painting that is currently displayed in the Louvre Museum. As a result, most museums serve as an enjoyable place to entertain people. Museums with mesmerising art pieces would attract people to visit them. Therefore, people would be more attracted to those kinds of places. People would love to take pictures and have an enjoyable time there. However, a museum should be more than just a place to take pictures.
In contrast, a museum should also be educational, not just entertaining. Therefore, a museum can be interpreted as a place to understand the meaning of life. Many exhibitions serve as an educational place, teaching something meaningful to their visitors. For instance, the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands, serves as an educational place where its visitors can learn about science and its role in our lives. Moreover, the NEMO Science Museum presents a lot of science projects, including the story behind them. The visitors could learn a lot from visiting a science museum.
Museums from any part of the world could have both purposes, educational and enjoyable. Nevertheless, I believe that people should be able to learn about something new after visiting a museum. Consequently, this is why I agree that a museum should serve as a place to educate visitors.
AI Feedback Report Details
Spelling · Grammar · Vocabulary · Criteria Analysis
Grammatical Mistakes
3 errors| Mistake | Correction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| sets its purpose as | sets its purpose to be | Awkward phrasing; 'to be' is more standard for indicating purpose |
| the moral from each piece | the moral of each piece | Preposition error; 'of' is used to show relationship or origin |
| Many exhibitions serve as an educational place | Many exhibitions serve as educational places | Noun number agreement; 'exhibitions' is plural, so 'places' should be plural |
Vocabulary Improvements
3 suggestions| Original Word/Phrase | Improved Word/Phrase | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| a lot of | many | 'A lot of' is informal; 'many' is more appropriate for academic writing |
| the moral | the message | 'Moral' implies an ethical lesson; 'message' is broader and more suitable for art and exhibits |
| take pictures | take photographs | 'Take pictures' is colloquial; 'take photographs' is more formal |
Ready to practise? Get instant AI feedback on your verdict.
Submit your Museums essay and receive AI scores across all four IELTS criteria — with specific feedback on whether your solutions are specific, realistic, and matched to your problems.
Detailed Criteria Feedback
AI-powered analysis for each scoring criterion
Task Response6
Evaluation
The essay presents both sides of the argument and states a clear opinion, but the development of ideas is limited. The entertainment perspective is only briefly mentioned with a superficial example (Louvre and Mona Lisa), while the educational side is better supported with the NEMO Science Museum example. The discussion lacks extended analysis or counterpoints.
Examples
For entertainment: 'Museums with mesmerising art pieces would attract people to visit them.' This is a general statement without elaboration. For education: The NEMO example is given but not deeply connected to the broader debate.
How to Improve
Extend each viewpoint by explaining why people hold these beliefs, e.g., entertainment for tourism and engagement, education for cultural preservation. Provide more balanced arguments and explore how museums can blend both purposes before reinforcing your opinion.
Coherence & Cohesion6
Evaluation
The essay has a basic structure with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the logical flow between ideas is sometimes weak, and cohesive devices are used mechanically. Paragraph topics are clear but could be more focused.
Examples
The first body paragraph starts abruptly with 'When people hear the word 'museum'...' and mixes ideas about entertainment without a clear thread. Transitions like 'In contrast' and 'Nevertheless' are used but do not always enhance coherence.
How to Improve
Improve paragraph unity by ensuring each paragraph has a single main idea. Use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'on the other hand,' 'furthermore') and strengthen connections between sentences to create smoother progression.
Lexical Resource6
Evaluation
Vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Some words are repeated, and there are awkward phrases that reduce clarity. The lexical range is limited to basic terms.
Examples
Repetition of 'educational place' and 'enjoyable place.' The word 'moral' in 'understand the moral' may be inaccurate; 'meaning' or 'significance' would be better. 'Mesmerising' is used but not commonly associated with museums.
How to Improve
Use synonyms like 'informative,' 'enlightening,' 'recreational,' or 'amusing' to avoid repetition. Incorporate topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'curation,' 'exhibits,' 'interactive displays') and ensure word choice is contextually appropriate.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy6
Evaluation
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentences, but grammatical errors and awkward constructions are noticeable. Errors in article usage, verb forms, and sentence structure occasionally hinder clarity.
Examples
Awkward construction: 'a museum sets its purpose as an enjoyable place' should be 'a museum's purpose is to be enjoyable.' Repetitive sentence: 'Museums... would attract people to visit them. Therefore, people would be more attracted...' Fragmented ideas in places.
How to Improve
Practice using complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., relative clauses, conditionals). Proofread for common errors like article omission ('the' vs. 'a') and verb agreement. Vary sentence beginnings to improve flow.
Tip: Review the Band 9 model answer to see how a high-scoring essay structures arguments, uses advanced vocabulary, and maintains coherence throughout.
RELATED ESSAYS
01
Some people in different countries earn very high incomes. While some people think that this is beneficial for the nation, others believe that the government should limit how much money people can make. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
An individual's educational background fortells a lot on how people can earn more or earn less. Some may finished only as a highschool graduate but has skills t...
02
There are two opposing views on whether university students should be free to choose their own subjects or whether they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
The two opposing views on whether university students should be free to choose their own subject or whether allowing an individual to study courses that will on...
03
Some people believe that the purpose of museums is to educate people, while others think that museums should be enjoyable places to entertain people. What is your view on this issue? Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
When travelling to another country, museums are often serves as a spot or a destination for that certain area. Museums offers education and entertainment. It do...
04
Some people believe that children benefit more from growing up in large families with many siblings, while others think that being an only child offers greater advantages.Discuss both views and give your own opinion.Write not less than 250 words.
In modern era, there is an incresing debate about children growing in large families can had benefit while others belive that growing nuclear family had benefit...
05
Some people believe that children benefit more from growing up in large families with many siblings, while others think that being an only child offers greater advantages.Discuss both views and give your own opinion.Write not less than 250 words.
It is a common belief of some individuals that children raised in large families with multiple siblings are more likely to benefit more from their upbringing wh...