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)

Some individuals argue that experts like doctors and engineers should be obligated to work in the country where they studied. While, opponents say that they should be given the freedom to work in the country they like. This essay will discuss both points of view before explaining why I strongly agree with the second stance.

Proponents believe that specialists, such as doctors and engineers should be required to serve the nation in which they completed their education. People who have a strong belief in Patriotism have this mindset. It is both meaningful and respectful for a person to serve the population and area in which he was educated. The people who invested in one's education, either morally or academically, deserve the benefits from whom they helped. For instance, a student who become the doctor in Pakistan should be treating in Pakistan because it will help him to be psychologically relaxed and give him opportunities to help his native people resulting in a good patriotic person.

In a debate, opponents contend that individuals should work in their dream country, as it ensures a person's basic freedom to fulfill their wishes. A student who has worked hard and smart throughout their academic life should be given the opportunity to move to their favorite country as a reward for their efforts. For instance, assume I become an engineer after dedicating myself to my studies so that I can turn my dreams into reality—including moving to a better country. If someone strongly advises me to live in my homeland instead, it will act as a major discouragement and undermine all my hard work.

In conclusion, it is good for a specialist to work in his home country but it should not be implemented. The person should have freedom to serve his favorit

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and clearly states a position. However, the essay is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence in the conclusion. While the main ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat simplistic. For instance, the argument regarding 'patriotism' is a good starting point but lacks depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that all arguments are fully explored and that the essay reaches a complete, well-rounded conclusion. The position is clear throughout, but the abrupt ending prevents a full demonstration of task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each view, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'In a debate', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the abrupt ending significantly impacts the overall flow and logical progression of the final paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a smooth, complete transition between ideas would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'specialists', 'obligated', and 'undermine'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'a student who become the doctor' (should be 'becomes') and 'treating in Pakistan' (should be 'practicing medicine'). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary to express complex ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'While, opponents say' (incorrect comma usage), 'a student who become the doctor' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'the benefits from whom they helped' (incorrect relative pronoun). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence structures will help improve accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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