Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-13

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)

In the compititive world, students become much serious about their academics and careers. There is on going debate that students should go for undergraduate course or work with some organisation or company. I partially agree with the statement because studing abroad offers several advantages, although there are some disadvantages.

On the one hand, there are significant advantage of studing abroad in university for some time. Individuals can gain practical knowledge through international exposure. Students mostly get better employment opportunities instead of their own home country. It is also helpful to individuals for personal development. For instance, a student who go to abroad for study, he/she could broden their knowlegde, learn new skills, adapting different culutre, explore new cultural food, etc. They may adapt new language for better communication with locals.

On the other hand, there are several disadvantage regarding going abroad for study. For some students,there are some financial limition, therefore they might feel financial pressure during academics. Some students may find dfficulties to adapt new cultural life style. Some time family responsibilities also play vital role for academic disruption. Unlike studing abroad, If individuals join a company or oraganisation for gain experience in their field is better option for them who has responsibilities at home. Internship could help student to broaden their knowledge in their academic and future work.

In conclusion, studing abroad offers students significant advantages like practical knowledge, cultural exchange and better employment opportunities. However, doing work with organisation also could provide knowlegde about their own field and lead to their career path.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the topic by discussing benefits of overseas study and drawbacks such as financial pressure, cultural adjustment and family responsibilities. Your opening also signals a qualified position: “I partially agree.” However, the task asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and the essay does not clearly decide this overall. The conclusion lists benefits and notes that work placements can help, but does not compare the two sides or state which outweighs the other. Several points, including improved employment prospects and personal development, are relevant but are asserted rather than explained with specific support. To strengthen the response, make your judgement explicit and develop a few key reasons with clearer explanations or examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph presenting advantages, a paragraph presenting disadvantages and alternatives, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow this structure. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes list-like, with several benefits or drawbacks placed together without showing how they connect. The example beginning “For instance” also shifts into a series of outcomes rather than developing one focused illustration. Some references are unclear, such as “Unlike studying abroad,” which does not clearly connect the comparison to the preceding point. Use linking phrases selectively and make each paragraph build around a central claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “international exposure,” “practical knowledge,” “financial pressure,” “cultural exchange” and “employment opportunities.” These choices communicate the main ideas, though some phrasing is imprecise or unnatural, such as “students become much serious,” “go to abroad,” and “adapt new language.” Spelling errors are also noticeable, including “compititive,” “knowlegde” and “culutre,” and they reduce the accuracy of the writing. There are attempts to express more specific ideas, but vocabulary is sometimes repetitive, particularly around studying abroad and knowledge. Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning common collocations, and choose precise phrases such as “adjust to a different culture” rather than translating expressions word for word.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because studying abroad offers several advantages” and a conditional example beginning “For instance, a student who…” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “there are significant advantage” has a number-agreement error, while “a student who go” and “who has responsibilities” show subject–verb agreement problems. Pronouns are also inconsistent in “a student … he/she could broaden their knowledge,” and the sentence about financial limitations needs clearer punctuation and clause structure. Aim to check agreement, articles and singular/plural forms, and revise long sentences so that each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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