Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-07
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 often suggested that before completing the undergraduation students should do some kind of internship. In my opinion this will have far more advantages for students as they will have experience before they graduate and it will help them in finding a good position in a top firm.
Firstly talking about the advantages, if a person has a professional experience he will find himself more confident in landing a good job. It will boost his confidence. He will have more chances of growing because he does not have to start everything from scratch. For instance, a computer science student who completes an internship at a software company will already know how to work in a team, meet deadlines, and use industry-standard tools.
On the other hand there are some flaws, a student who is studying as well as doing an internship will not be able to focus on his studies that can cause him to achieve less grades with that due to mismanagement of time and not taking proper rest can also cause health issues. In addition, there are many companies that give very less salary and make interns do a lot of hard work. There should be a check on every firm so there is no exploitation.
In conclusion, the advantages are much greater if an intern gets professional experience, time management skills and much more but we cannot overlook the disadvantages, there should be a check on every company so that there are no inters that are being exploited.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you provide a relevant example regarding a computer science student, the discussion on disadvantages remains quite general. The position is clear throughout, but the essay would benefit from more depth in the arguments. For instance, you mention 'exploitation' and 'time management' but do not fully explore how these impact the overall educational experience. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed reasoning or specific evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for pros and cons, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' to signal transitions between ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. For example, the final sentence of the conclusion is a bit wordy and repeats the idea of 'exploitation' mentioned earlier. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'internship', 'professional experience', and 'industry-standard tools'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'achieve less grades' (should be 'achieve lower grades') and 'give very less salary' (should be 'offer very low salaries'). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary and collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'before completing the undergraduation' (should be 'undergraduate studies'), 'if a person has a professional experience' (should be 'professional experience' without 'a'), and 'there are no inters that are being exploited' (should be 'interns'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices in the third paragraph. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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