Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-10-01

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Write about the following topic:

Many young people choose to take a year out between finishing school and starting university in order to gain work experience or to travel. The experience of non-academic life this offers benefits the individual when they return to education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

MANY YOUNG GENERATION TO TAKE A YEAR OUT BETWEEN FINISHING SCHOOL AND STARTING UNIVERSITY IN ORDER TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE OF NON-ACADEMIC LIFE TIS OFFERS BENIFITS THE INDIVIDUAL WHEN THEY RETURN TO EDUCATION. I PARTLY AGREE WITH THIS GAP THIS CAN BENIFIT PEOPLE BECAUSE IT DEVELOPS SOME SKILLS AND BECOME MORE MATURE.

ON THE ONE HAND, TAKING A YEAR AWAY FROM EDUCATION IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE. YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS MANAGE THEIR TIME AND RESPONSIBILITY THESE SKILLS ARE FACES MANY DIFFICULTIES OR DEVELOP A LESSON ALONE. IN ADDITION, A YEAR GAP FOR EDUCATION CAN HELP TO EARNING MONEY FOR PAYING UNIVERSITY DUES. FOR INSTANCE, A PERSON CAN TAKE A JOB FOR SUPERMARKET AS A SELLSMAN BECOME MORE CONFIDENT WHILE DEALING WITH THE CUSTOMERS.

ANOTHER BENIFIT IS TRAVELLING. WHILE VISITING DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND EXPLORE THEIR OLD AREAS AND CULTURE AND MEET PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.

AS A RESULT, THEY CAN BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT AND OPEN-MINDED AND EASILY COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. MOREOVER, THIS WAY CAN HELP STUDENT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR INTERESTS AND CHOOSE EASILY UNIVERSITY SUBJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, MANY STUDENTS TAKE INTERESTS IN TEACHING AND LATER THEY CHOOSE EDUCATION AS A CAREER.

HOWEVER, TAKING A YEAR GAP HAVE ALSO SOME BAD EFFECTS.SOME STUDENTS COULD LOSE THEIR ACADEMIC HABITS AND FIND DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK THEIR STUDY SESSION THEREFORE, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO MAKE A PLAN AND USE THE TIME IN A POSITIVE WAY.

TO RECEPICULATE, A YEAR GAP CAN ALSO BENIFICIAL IF IT IS PLANNED CAREFULLY. WORK OR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE CAN PROVIDE INDEPENDENCE AND CHOOSE THEIR RIGHT OPTION FOR EDUCATION OR CAREER.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position on the benefits and drawbacks of taking a gap year. Relevant ideas are presented, such as gaining work experience, developing communication skills, and discovering personal interests. However, some ideas are under-developed or somewhat unclear, such as the sentence 'these skills are faces many difficulties or develop a lesson alone,' which lacks full clarity. The main arguments are supported with examples, like working in a supermarket, though further extension of these points would elevate the response. The overall stance is maintained throughout the essay, fulfilling the basic requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a recognisable introduction, body paragraphs addressing both advantages and disadvantages, and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, such as work experience, travelling, and drawbacks. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, with abrupt transitions and referencing that is not always entirely clear. For instance, the transition 'ANOTHER BENIFIT IS TRAVELLING' introduces a new paragraph, but the logical flow between sentences occasionally stumbles, as seen in the link between the conclusion of the travel argument and the following concession. Cohesive devices are employed, but their management creates a slightly disjointed progression rather than a completely smooth flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The writer demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting less common items such as 'open-minded,' 'independent,' and 'responsibility.' However, there are noticeable errors in word choice, word form, and spelling throughout the text, including terms like 'BENIFITS' instead of benefits, 'SELLSMAN' instead of salesman, 'COUNTIES' instead of countries, and 'RECIPICULATE' instead of recapitulate. While these lexical and spelling errors do not completely impede communication, they restrict the score because they reflect a limited control of word formation and spelling conventions. The vocabulary remains somewhat repetitive, relying on basic terms alongside sporadic attempts at more sophisticated phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied structures such as conditional and participial constructions, as seen in 'while visiting different counties and explore their old areas...'. There are, however, frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Issues include subject-verb agreement and missing auxiliary verbs, such as 'SOME STUDENTS COULD LOSE... AND FIND DIFFICULT TO RETURN BACK THEIR STUDY SESSION,' missing articles like 'take a job for supermarket,' and awkward preposition usage. While these errors occur regularly, they rarely impede overall communication, as the reader can still piece together the intended meaning of the complex sentences despite the faulty grammar.

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