Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29
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 people think that professionals like doctors and engineers must work in the country where they did their training . Other people believe that they sould be allowed to work in anyother country if they want
Doctors and engineers get training from a country, so they should work there for some years. This is because the government spend a lot of money on their education and training. For example, medical students use many facilities in hospitals and universities which are paid by the government. If these doctors go to another country after completing their study, the first country can face a shortage of doctors. This can create problems for normal people.
On the other hand, I think professionals should be free to work in another country . people have their own goals and they want to earn better salary . Some countries offer better jobs and working conditions for doctors and engineers. For example, a doctor from Pakistan may go to the UK because there are more job opportunities and better facilities.
In my opinion, professionals should have the right to work in any country, but they should also give something back to their own countr . For example, they can work there for some years before moving abroad. In this way, both the professional and the country can get benefit.
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 essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the discussion. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the argument regarding government spending could be expanded with more specific consequences or counter-arguments. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of ideas is restricted, preventing a higher score. To improve, you should aim to expand your supporting points with more detailed explanations and perhaps a second example to ensure the word count is met.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'For example' to link your points. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical, and the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and referencing. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the brevity of the text makes the overall structure feel somewhat thin. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated cohesive devices to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'professionals', 'job opportunities', and 'working conditions'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'anyother' and 'countr'. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic vocabulary. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure your spelling is accurate throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'government spend' (should be 'spends') and 'get benefit' (should be 'benefit' or 'receive benefits'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing periods at the end of some sentences. The range of structures is somewhat limited, and the errors, while not impeding communication, are frequent enough to affect the overall accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor slips would help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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