Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27
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)
A lot of students move to foreign countries after completing the training in search of better career opportunities. Although, it is often argued that these professional should work in the country they practised . However, I think they should have right to work in the country of their choice and the essay will discuss both the perspective in upcoming paragraphs.
To begin with, lot of young talented professionals complete their degree and training in their home country as it is cheaper for them. However, moving to another country can lead to situations like brain drain in the home country. Important sectors like medical and engineering field are effected as their are less eligible graduates available. This can also effect the economical condition of the country. Moreover, research and new inventions can be delayed in a country due to this. Also, government invest a lot of money in government colleges which eventually wasted as their will be no return.
On the other hand, people moving to foreign countries in search of work can provide them better opportunities and lifestyle. They can achieve financial freedom faster. Further, they can experience the foreign technology and help the country to achieve success faster. Also they can create employment in their home country by providing freelance work to youth. For instance, software developer working in foreign countries can provide website building work to native people and help them earn money.
In conclusion, shifting to other country after completing degree can be beneficial on personal basis but it affects overall growth and development of the country in which they trained. Although, people should have the right to make choices for themselves.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'brain drain' is relevant but could be supported with more specific examples or deeper analysis of the long-term consequences. The conclusion is a bit brief and does not fully synthesise the points made in the body paragraphs. While the task is addressed, the depth of discussion is more characteristic of a band 6.0, as some points remain slightly under-developed or rely on generalisations.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader. However, there are some issues with referencing and mechanical usage. For example, the phrase 'the essay will discuss both the perspective' contains a grammatical error, and the transition between sentences is sometimes repetitive. The use of cohesive devices is functional but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their meaning clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'brain drain', 'freelance', and 'economical condition'. However, there are several word-choice errors and inaccuracies, such as 'practised' instead of 'trained', 'effected' instead of 'affected', and 'economical' instead of 'economic'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range and a lack of precision in word choice, which is consistent with a band 6.0 level.
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 frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'these professional should' (pluralisation error), 'their are less eligible' (homophone error: 'there'), 'government invest' (subject-verb agreement), and 'their will be no return' (homophone error). These errors are noticeable and occur in both simple and complex sentences. While they do not prevent the reader from understanding the argument, they indicate a lack of control over basic grammatical rules.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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