Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04
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)
Many universities undergraduate courses ought to include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.
Various universities offer different facilities to their students which help them to grow their future career. Which proves really helpful for them. And studying in abroad is a really good opportunity and universities should include a period of time spent in studying abroad.
As studying in abroad increases lot of experience and gain knowledge. It also helps us to figure out solution for other things.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 84 words. Consequently, the task is addressed only minimally. The essay lacks a clear position on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and the ideas are severely underdeveloped. There is no attempt to provide a balanced argument or specific examples to support the claim. To improve, you must expand your response by providing a clear thesis statement, body paragraphs with detailed explanations, and a concluding summary. You need to explore both the benefits and potential drawbacks of mandatory study abroad or work placements to fully address the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response lacks logical organization and progression. While there are some attempts at sentence structure, the ideas are fragmented and do not flow logically from one to the next. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and often misused, such as starting sentences with 'Which' or 'And'. Paragraphing is absent, which makes the text difficult to follow. To improve, you should organize your essay into clear paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs (one for advantages, one for disadvantages), and a conclusion. Use linking words like 'furthermore', 'however', and 'consequently' to connect your ideas more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary is very basic and repetitive, which limits the expression of ideas. Phrases like 'really good opportunity' and 'grow their future career' are simplistic and lack the academic tone required for an IELTS essay. There is little evidence of a range of vocabulary, and the word choice is often imprecise. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to education and professional development. Try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to convey your points with greater precision and academic style.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence fragments (e.g., 'Which proves really helpful for them.') and incorrect preposition usage (e.g., 'studying in abroad'). The range of structures is extremely limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To improve, you need to practice constructing complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions like 'although', 'because', or 'whereas'. Additionally, focus on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage to reduce the frequency of errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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