Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28
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)
Nowadays, in this fierce-competitive world, people argue that professionals, such as doctors, engineers or scientist, should work in their country where they finish the relevant education or training. While others contend that people should have the freedom to choose the country where they work in if they wish. While it may be unfair to the professionals but I believe individuals who receive subsidized education or training should work in the country for certain period like at least 5 years then they're free to choose where or which country they want to work in.
On one hand, many country has experienced the loss of talented individuals such as doctors, engineers, or scientist as they decided to work or serve in other country which could bring long-term negative impact to the country. Many countries government often subsidized the higher education using tax payer money, so citizens expect those talented peoples should serve their country in return. Furthermore, developing countries often face severe shortage of medical staff and technical experts. Those doctors who receive scholarship should stays and work in the local healthcare systems.
On the other hand, every persons should have the liberty right which is the freedom to choose where and which country they want to work in. Adults should have the fre
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 212 words long and ends abruptly mid-sentence. While the essay introduces both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion, the incomplete nature of the response means the conclusion is missing and the final argument is underdeveloped. The ideas presented, such as the economic impact of 'brain drain' and the concept of individual liberty, are relevant but lack the necessary depth and extension required for a higher band. To improve, you must ensure you complete the essay structure and provide sufficient supporting evidence for all points raised.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a basic logical flow with clear paragraphing for the introduction and the two opposing viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, the abrupt ending significantly disrupts the overall coherence of the piece. Referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as in the phrase 'those talented peoples', which affects the flow. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are linked more smoothly and that you provide a full, cohesive conclusion that synthesizes your arguments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word-choice errors, such as 'fierce-competitive' (should be 'fiercely competitive') and 'liberty right'. Pluralization errors are also present, such as 'many country' instead of 'many countries' and 'peoples' instead of 'people'. While the range is sufficient to convey the main ideas, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of repetitive errors limit the score. Focusing on correct collocations and word forms will help improve your lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'many country has' and 'doctors... should stays'. There are also errors in article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in the country where they did their training' (which is correct) contrasted with 'work in the country for certain period' (missing an article). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Proofreading for basic agreement and article usage is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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