Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-06

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 recent years, all undergraduates students should spend some time studying abroad or completing a work placement as part of their degree. I believe the advantage of this requirement outweigh the disadvantages because it improve practical skills and broadens students perspectives, has become increasingly popular.

One of the main advantage is that one significant advantage is that student gain practical experience before graduating. This is because a work placement allows student to apply theoretical knowledge in a real workplace, develop professional skills, and understand employer expectations. For example, many people nowadays engineering and business student who complete internships often find it easier to secure full time jobs because they already have relevant experience. As a result, graduates become more employable and better prepared for their careers it creates positive effects.

Second major benefit is that studying abroad broadens student knowledge and cultural awareness. Living in another country helps students improve their communication skills because they need to speak with local people, classmates, and teachers in daily life. As a result, they become more confident in expressing their ideas. For example, a student who studies in Canada learns to manage daily life without their family, make new friends, and communicate with people from different cultures. This helps them become more independent and confident. Therefore, they develop both professionally and personally.

However, there are also some disadvantages. One problem is that admittedly, studying abroad or undertaking a work placement can be expensive and many not be suitable for every student. For instance, universities can reduce these difficulty by offering scholarships, financial support and flexible placement options.

In conclusion, although studying abroad or doing a work placement may have some challenges, the advantages are more important. These opportunities help students improve their skills, gain experience, and prepare for their future careers. Therefore, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly regarding practical experience and cultural awareness. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise, and some points are slightly repetitive. For instance, the introduction contains a fragmented sentence structure ('has become increasingly popular') that weakens the clarity of the thesis. While the main body paragraphs provide good examples, the development could be more nuanced to reach a higher band. The conclusion effectively summarises the argument, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'One of the main advantage', 'Second major benefit', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader. However, there are instances where cohesion is slightly mechanical or repetitive. For example, the phrase 'one significant advantage is that' is redundant following the previous sentence. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the phrase 'it creates positive effects' at the end of the second paragraph, which lacks a clear antecedent. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'theoretical knowledge', 'employable', and 'cultural awareness'. However, there are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'many not be suitable' (should be 'may') and 'reduce these difficulty' (should be 'difficulties'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('all undergraduates students', 'one of the main advantage is', 'student gain') and missing articles or pluralisation errors. Some sentences are also awkwardly constructed, such as the opening sentence which lacks proper coordination. While the errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences would benefit from better clause management.

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

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