Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09
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)
People believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, work in their home country where they did their training, while others argue that they should be free to work in another country if they wish. In this essay we will discuss both perspectives. I believe that whatever your profession is, you should first contribute your skills to your home country.
On the other hand, people believe doctors and engineers work in their home country because, first, they are right on your skills in your country, people. For instance, I have completed my MBBS degree in Pakistan. Now I am providing treatment to people free of cost.
However, others believe that they should be free to work in another country because when they go abroad for specialization and any technical courses, After that, when they return to their home country, their skills and knowledge are enhanced, and then they provide better services for people. For example, Ali went to the UK for specialization to become a neurologist, and then their home country needs him because in Pakistan a dangerous virus is spread throughout the country, and Ali knows the treatment very well, so he came back to Pakistan for the people's treatment.
In conclusion, I believe that when you get their degree in any field in your home country, first your around people are right on your knowledge and skills. We should spread our educational knowledge because people learn from them. So the people work first in their home country rather than go abroad free to work in another country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The essay addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments are somewhat repetitive and lack depth, particularly in the second paragraph where the reasoning is unclear ('they are right on your skills'). The example of 'Ali' is relevant but the explanation of how it supports the argument is slightly confusing. To improve, you should expand on the 'why' behind each perspective, focusing on the economic or social implications of brain drain versus professional development, rather than relying on personal anecdotes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While transition words like 'On the other hand', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used, they are sometimes applied mechanically or incorrectly. For instance, the transition 'However' is used to introduce the second view, but the connection between the ideas within the paragraphs is often disjointed. Referencing is also problematic, as seen in the phrase 'their home country' where the antecedent is unclear. Improving the flow between sentences would significantly enhance the readability of your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally basic and repetitive. You rely on simple phrases like 'people', 'work', and 'skills' throughout the text. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'right on your skills' and 'a dangerous virus is spread'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the limited range of vocabulary prevent a higher score. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and topic-specific terminology related to migration, professional ethics, and human capital.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('a dangerous virus is spread'), incorrect pronoun usage ('their home country' referring to a singular professional), and awkward phrasing ('whatever your profession is'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.