Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

It is an undeniable fact that all univeristy undergraduates should be given a chance to go abroard for a short period of time or involving in work is a good idea. Although some people might consider it negative but i believe it to be extremely beneficial not only beacuse it leads to better employment oppotunities, enhance confidence, but also for better life style. This essay will explore how these factors make this development a positive one.

There are multiple benefts of this suggestion that students should give a chnace to go abroad at undergraduate level or involve them in job. Firstly, one of the major advantages of this step is the better future and good working facilities that are numerous in abroad. A short period can bring a successful career for them. For example, one of my friend went to Uk for a semester break on the behalf of his university, there he got a very good job in a well reputated company and now he is there and doing his job. Thus, this benefit can almost single handedly make this development a positive one.

Secondly, another major acpect of this technology is that abroad tour can enhance the confidence level of students.They learn different things, new idealogies and enjoy new culture getting more interaction at international level. For instance, according to a survey conducted by US team, reflected that confidence level of these students is 90% higher than native one.

Finally, another considerable merit associated with this development is the better life style that they deserve after analyzing their skills and academic records.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention employment and confidence, the arguments lack depth and specific analysis. For instance, the example of your friend is anecdotal and does not fully explain the broader systemic benefits of study abroad programs. Additionally, the final paragraph is underdeveloped and lacks a clear connection to the prompt's requirement to weigh advantages against disadvantages. To improve, ensure each body paragraph provides a well-reasoned explanation followed by a clear, relevant example that supports your central argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic logical progression. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Finally', which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences is disjointed. For example, the transition into the final paragraph is abrupt, and the paragraph itself is very short, lacking sufficient development to maintain the essay's coherence. Improving the use of referencing and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall flow and logical structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but there are frequent errors in word choice and spelling that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'univeristy', 'abroard', 'involving in work', 'well reputated', and 'acpect'. You attempt to use some academic vocabulary, such as 'undeniable fact' and 'idealogies', but these are sometimes used incorrectly or in contexts that feel unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on accurate spelling and using collocations correctly. Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more precise, topic-specific terms related to education and professional development would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'one of my friend went'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'involving in work is a good idea'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately to improve your control over grammatical structures.

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