Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-12

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 5.0)

Nowadays, many people believe that university students should spend some time studying in another country or gaining practical wor experience. I think are sre some disadvantages, and i strongly believe that its benefits are betters.

There are several advantages of studying aboard because they a work experience. University students meet international students and improve english. Students pratice own knowledge thiey work on real life solution. For example, student do work or any course they work own whenever they apply jobs or companies. Students go abroad meets different peoples and leran new cultures. and face altos of difficulites. Students improve english skills and ready for face problems in real lifes.

However there are some disdvantages to this approach. The main problems is abroad study are very expensive and students families does not afford beacuse they income are very poor. They may have to pay accomadtion, ltravelling and other expensive. And some times students face very big problems that is living without parents and sibiling. Students goes other environment and didnt eat new things, and some times changes the water and students take stress and fevers.

In my conclusion, although studying aboard very good beacuse students learn new things like culture, english skills, meet different peoples and new cultures. Disadvantages some students not living without family and take stress and dont focus on study and some students families does not afford abroad expensive.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both sides of the question and state a position: you believe the benefits are greater, while recognising costs and separation from family as disadvantages. Relevant benefits include improving English, learning about other cultures and gaining practical experience. However, the position and supporting ideas are only partly developed. For example, “Students pratice own knowledge” and the example about applying for jobs are difficult to interpret, so the link between placements and future employment is not clearly explained. The disadvantages are also listed rather than explored, and the conclusion repeats points without clearly weighing them against the benefits. The response is 19 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop and support your ideas. Add a specific example and explain why the advantages outweigh the costs and personal difficulties.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “However” helps the reader follow the change in focus. At the same time, progression within paragraphs is uneven because several points are placed together without clear links. For instance, the advantages paragraph moves from meeting international students to work experience, job applications and difficulties without explaining how these ideas connect. Some linking is also awkward or repetitive, such as beginning several sentences with “Students” and using “And” to start a sentence. Organise each body paragraph around one main idea, then explain it and give a relevant example; use pronouns and linking phrases to make relationships between sentences clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use a basic range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “work experience,” “international students,” “new cultures,” “expensive” and “stress.” These choices make the general subject understandable. However, vocabulary is repetitive and often imprecise, and frequent spelling errors make some phrases difficult to read, such as “aboard” for studying abroad, “accomadtion” and “difficulites.” Some combinations are also unnatural, including “practice own knowledge” and “very big problems.” Aim to learn accurate topic phrases and collocations, such as “gain practical experience,” “cover accommodation and travel costs,” and “adapt to a new environment.” Proofreading spelling and choosing more precise words will help you express your ideas with less effort for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple sentences and longer structures, including a contrast with “although” and a reason introduced by “because.” However, the range is limited, and errors in basic sentence patterns occur frequently, sometimes making meaning unclear. Examples include “I think are sre some disadvantages,” “The main problems is,” and “Students goes other environment.” These show problems with sentence formation, subject–verb agreement and articles. There are also incomplete or poorly connected sentences, such as “And some times students face very big problems that is living without parents and sibiling.” Practise building accurate subject–verb sentences first, then combine related ideas using “because,” “although” and “which.” Check agreement, articles and punctuation carefully before submitting.

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