Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-11

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 4.0)

In recent years, all university bachelor degrees should include a period time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. I think this statement advantages of this outweight the disadvantages. On the one hand, there are several advanatges associated with all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad. On major concern is that they will be develop learn skills and critical thinking skills . This is because they can exchange personal experience. Consequently, they are build in education careers. For example, some university curriculum is two plus two programm so bachelors students prefer choose this opportuinity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You state a position—“I think this statement advantages of this outweight the disadvantages”—and begin to give a relevant benefit, namely developing learning and critical-thinking skills. However, the response does not explain the disadvantages or clearly compare them with the advantages, so it only minimally addresses the question. The example about a “two plus two programm” is not explained enough to show how it supports your view. The response contains 79 words, which is 171 words below the 250-word minimum; 22 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. To improve, state your position clearly, discuss both sides, and develop each main point with explanation and a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: “On the one hand” signals a point, and “For example” introduces an illustration. These markers show an awareness of how to connect ideas. However, the response ends before a contrasting side or conclusion appears, and the ideas within the paragraph do not progress clearly. For instance, the link between exchanging personal experience, building “in education careers,” and the two-plus-two programme is difficult to follow. The opening also repeats much of the task wording rather than setting up a clear argument. Use separate paragraphs for your position, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion, and make each sentence explain or support the one before it.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You attempt some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “critical thinking skills,” “personal experience,” and “curriculum,” so the response is not limited entirely to everyday language. However, inaccurate word forms, spelling, and collocations often make the meaning unclear: “outweight,” “advanatges,” “opportuinity,” and “build in education careers” are examples. The phrase “develop learn skills” also does not express the intended idea naturally. These errors restrict precision and make it harder for the reader to understand your points. Check spelling carefully and learn common word partnerships, such as “develop skills,” “gain work experience,” and “improve career prospects,” then use them in complete explanations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You make an attempt at a complex sentence with “This is because they can exchange personal experience,” and the response includes some simple sentence patterns. However, control of basic sentence structure and verb forms is inconsistent. For example, “they will be develop learn skills” combines incompatible verb forms, while “some university curriculum is two plus two programm” has problems with agreement and sentence construction. The opening phrase “a period time spent” also lacks a grammatical link between the words. These errors sometimes obscure the intended meaning, and the short response gives little evidence of a wider range of accurate structures. Practise forming clear subject–verb sentences first, then add subordinate clauses and check each verb form.

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