Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.
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)
While many people believe that highly educated professionals, such as doctors and engineers should provide and work in the country where they did their training or graduated from, I personally believe along with other people that one should have a free will to choose which country they want to work in.
On the one hand, it is true to say that many countries such as India want their doctors, engineers and lawyers to work in the country, help build the future generation and framework of the country as well. Firstly, highly qualified individuals such as doctors and engineers are a key aspect for the growth of the country. They contribute greatly towards the society fundamentally as well as economically. In addition, they play an important role in building the infrastructure of the country along with inspiring youth to pursue their dream to become accomplished individuals and contribute with their skill to the country. Moreover, people believe that one should give back to the same country that shaped them into a professional of a certain degree.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that achieving such degrees require a lot of hardship ,determination and time. Firstly, people believe that engineers and doctors have worked hard enough to choose where or which country they want to work in. In many countries for instance India, there is cut-throat competition in the job market, pay scale is low compared to other countries and lifestyle is poor. This naturally results in qualified people choosing to move to a different country where they are paid good salaries along with a better lifestyle.
In conclusion, although many people believe working the country where they completed their training would benefit the country greatly In my opinion these acclaimed should be given their own choice to choose which country they want to work in.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, particularly the discussion regarding economic contributions and the personal rights of professionals. However, the development is somewhat uneven; while the first body paragraph is well-supported, the second paragraph relies heavily on the example of India, which limits the scope of the argument. To reach a higher band, you should aim to broaden your supporting points beyond a single national context and ensure that the conclusion fully synthesises the main points rather than just restating the prompt's premise.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is slightly abrupt, and some sentences feel a bit repetitive in their structure. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the progression of ideas is generally clear, though the final sentence of the conclusion is slightly disjointed due to minor grammatical issues.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'highly qualified individuals', 'cut-throat competition', and 'infrastructure'. There is an attempt to use less common items, though some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'acclaimed' used as a noun to refer to professionals. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your range of academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would significantly improve your score in this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several minor errors in punctuation and grammar, such as the missing comma after 'hardship' and the awkward phrasing in the conclusion: 'In my opinion these acclaimed should be given their own choice'. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. The errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for small mechanical errors and varying your sentence complexity would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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