Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

All university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.

Do you think the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is often argue that universities students should requried to studying or gain practical experience in others countries. Some people belived that it have disatvantages becasue of it may be disrupt the students academic courses and can face financial difficulties. However, I belive the advantages is outweigh the disadvantages due to students can develop practical skills and build future carrer prospects.

One of the main benefit is students can improve their practical experience with hand on paractice becasue universities focus more on theoritical courses and in abroad they will get oppurtunities in real world projects with hands on experience. Furthermore, after graduation they can get a valuable job due to problem sloving in real world projects. For instance, Many high ranked companies requried experienced people for their employment so, they can get these types of oppurtunities for financial settlement.

Despite these benefits, there are some disadvantages. Firstly, travelling to abroad students may face financail difficulties particularly from low-income families because it will need accommodation, transpotation,and living expences. Secondaly, some student may face difficulties to adop their culture due to unfamilar with their life styles and some may face homesickness. However, this problem may reduce with providing great facilities. For example if universities or government provide scholarship for these type of activties and offers free accommdation. In addition, institutions may offer local workplace for student who don't afford to trevel other countries.

In conclusion, although compulsory abroad work place or study may face difficulties such as financial arrangment and personal problem. Howerver, it have more advantages such as with practical experience they can great oppurtunities for their future prospect.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. The practical-experience argument is relevant, as is the discussion of costs, cultural adjustment and homesickness. You also suggest ways to reduce the drawbacks, including scholarships and local placements. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained. For example, the link between real-world projects and better career prospects is plausible, but the example about high-ranked companies remains general and does not show how a placement benefits students. Develop one or two examples in more detail, and explain more explicitly why the benefits apply broadly enough to justify making overseas study or work experience compulsory.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your view, the body paragraphs consider benefits and drawbacks, and the conclusion restates your position. Signposting such as “Furthermore,” “Despite these benefits,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the argument. Within paragraphs, however, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The sentence beginning “For instance” moves from practical experience to company hiring without fully explaining the link, while “However, this problem” does not clearly identify whether it refers to cost, cultural adjustment or homesickness. Use more precise referencing and connect each example directly to the point it supports. A clearer progression within the body paragraphs would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “practical experience,” “financial difficulties,” “accommodation,” “scholarship” and “homesickness.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, but the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make the writing less clear or natural. Examples include “hand on paractice,” “problem sloving,” “financial arrangment” and “great oppurtunities.” Some collocations are also awkward, such as “financial settlement” and “adop their culture.” Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning common word partnerships for education, employment and travel. More precise vocabulary would also help distinguish between studying abroad and completing a work placement.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “although” and a conditional example beginning “if universities or government provide.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction occur often enough to affect clarity. For example, “It is often argue” needs a passive form, and “the advantages is outweigh” has incorrect agreement and verb structure. In “some student may face difficulties,” the noun should be plural, while the final sentence beginning “although” is not completed as a full contrast before “However.” Practise building accurate clauses first, then combine them using conjunctions and check subject–verb agreement.

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