Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-14

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)

It is a common suggestion that inclusion of work placement or a period of studying abroad should be done in all undergraduate courses of a university. This essay will enuciate upon the merits and demerits of this before it reaches a reasoned conclusion.

First and foremost, this thing has some disadvantages. To begin with, the expense of studying abroad is exorbitant, not everyone can afford to pay such a huge amount of money for

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response begins to address the disadvantages, identifying the high cost of studying abroad and noting that not everyone can afford it. However, it does not answer the central question about whether advantages outweigh disadvantages: there is no discussion of benefits and no clear position or conclusion. The point about expense is relevant, but it is left unfinished, so its impact is not explained or supported with an example. The response also falls substantially short of the required 250 words, which prevents the task from being developed. To improve, state your view directly, discuss both sides with specific reasons, and explain how each point supports your conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introductory sentence is followed by a transition into the disadvantages, using “First and foremost” and “To begin with.” These signals make the intended direction understandable. However, the essay stops during its first supporting point, so there is no developed progression, contrasting paragraph, or conclusion. The phrase “this thing” also refers vaguely to the proposal, and the unfinished final sentence leaves the relationship between the cost and the argument incomplete. Build a clear sequence of introduction, developed body paragraphs, and conclusion, and use precise references such as “this requirement” to help the reader follow the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response shows some range through formal expressions such as “exorbitant,” “merits and demerits,” and “reasoned conclusion.” These choices indicate an attempt to use academic vocabulary. However, some wording is inaccurate or unnatural: “enuciate upon” is not the appropriate expression here, and “this thing” is vague and informal. “Inclusion … should be done” is also an awkward way to describe making placements part of a course. The spelling error in “enuciate” further reduces accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations, for example “discuss the advantages and disadvantages” and “make a placement compulsory.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes a complex opening structure, “It is a common suggestion that…,” and the sentence beginning “To begin with” attempts to explain a reason. These show some ability to form more than simple sentences. However, grammatical control is uneven. In “inclusion … should be done,” the passive construction is awkwardly formed, while “not everyone can afford to pay such a huge amount of money for” is left incomplete and ends with a preposition that has no object. The final sentence therefore cannot communicate a complete idea. Practise completing clauses and using natural grammatical patterns, such as “including a placement in every undergraduate course” and “not everyone can afford the associated costs.”

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.