Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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)
It has long been a subject of discussion whether all university courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement or not. In this essay the former notion has several elements that deserve attention and I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this essay before reaching a concrete conclusion.
To commence with, one of main advantage is that students can explore other countries and try different culture that expand their knowledge with studying. To elaborate it, with studying students can experience work which was beneficial for their career and job experience. Moreover, placement is a great opportunity for students to grasp knowledge that will help in their future career. For example, some university offer placement to gain better skills. Hence, studying abroad improves communication skills.
Moving on further, studying abroad is not a cup of tea. Middle class people can't afford this type of expenses. To clear it, it include expenses like living costs, travel expense and other related costs during living in a foreign country. Furthermore, if course includes placement the duration of the course is getting long. Forcing university into placement will increase length of the course. This delays their entry into a full time placement costing their time and potentially early career income. For instance, according to a recent survey that was conducted 55% people were really happy with this type of placement but some of them were against of it because they thought that it will decrease their chances of career chances.
In conclusion, placement is benefecial for stu
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The essay addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages. However, the response is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence in the conclusion. While a position is introduced, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding 'middle class people' is a valid point, but it lacks depth. The example provided about a survey is vague and lacks specific context. To improve, ensure that each point is fully explained with clear logical links and that the essay is brought to a complete, well-reasoned conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'Moving on further'. While these help the flow, the progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt ending significantly impacts the overall coherence of the piece. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'To elaborate it, with studying students can experience work', where the connection between the ideas is weak. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a logical flow between sentences would enhance the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'not a cup of tea' (which is an informal idiom not well-suited to an academic essay) and 'forcing university into placement'. The range is limited, relying on repetitive phrasing like 'studying' and 'placement'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more academic vocabulary and precise collocations, such as 'financial constraints' instead of 'expenses like living costs' and 'professional development' instead of 'gain better skills'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'one of main advantage' (missing article and pluralization), 'some university offer' (subject-verb agreement), and 'against of it' (incorrect preposition). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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