Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07
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)
There is an ongoing debate about whether the professionals such as doctors and engineers should be required to work in their country where they did training or allow to work in the country where they wish. Both statements have valid arguments. But I believe that the professional should have freedom to decide where they work.
On one side, the professionals should be required to work in their country where they got education. Because in mostly countries, government provides many scholarships and funding for the students. If they immediately go abroad after completing their degree, the government may not be able to get the required benefits specially in the developing countries. For instance, when the professional doctors left their country, the government may be unable to provide the required health services. Therefore, they should remain in their country to contribute their country socially and economically.
On the other hand, the experts should not be forced to remain in their homeland from where they got education because lot of students study on their own behalf like they bear all the private study expenses. Most of the professionals move abroad because of better career opportunities and to study more advanced technology. They should work abroad with different individuals and come back after study to contribute their own country.
In conclusion, I believe that the professional should not be forced to remain in their country as they should have freedom to chose the country for work.
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 falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement (242 words), which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the point about 'advanced technology' is mentioned but not fully explained in the context of how it benefits the home country. To reach a higher band, you need to expand on your supporting examples and ensure the word count is met to allow for a more thorough exploration of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On one side,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' are used to signal the progression of ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between ideas could be smoother. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a strong, unified topic sentence that clearly connects to the overall argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good' or 'required' and repeat phrases such as 'work in their country' and 'study'. There are also some minor collocation errors, such as 'contribute their country' (should be 'contribute to their country') and 'study on their own behalf' (should be 'at their own expense'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
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 impede the flow. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'the professionals', 'the government'), incorrect preposition usage, and subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'the professional should have freedom'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with articles and prepositions, and try to vary your sentence structures by using more complex subordinating clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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