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)

All universities must include a short duration for studying or for doing a internship for all undergraduate courses. I agree that the advantages overweigh the disadvantages. In this essay, I will discuss about benefits of studying and doing work abroad that enable students to explore different cultures and will provide job opportunities.

On one hand, with the increase in population and advancement in technology the competition in education increases. The universities must include courses which enable the students to go abroad in various universities and research centres to work with the experts that are related to their field of study. It will provide the students with alot of practical experience and enable them to work independently.

Moreover, a short duration of stuides in a international institution opens up alot of job opportunities for students. Many countries allow students to work part time which makes them financially stable. In this way they not only study but they also earn a handsome amount with their studies.

On the other hand, studying abroad builts confidence in students and they develop problem solving skills which enables them to tackle problems on their own. As they live away from their parents, they face many difficulties during their studies and work. Hence, they think of the solutions to their problems and manage them.

Moreover, all the students can not afford to go to other countries for studies. The students from middle class families could not manage expenses which restricts them to explore other countries and their cultures.The government should provide scholarships to competitive students so that all the students can get equal opportunities. This will enhance the cross cultural exploration.

In my opinion, it is beneficial for students to take a short term course in another country. It builts confidence and provide them many other opportunities regarding their studies and jobs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed the prompt by taking a clear position and providing reasons for your argument. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention benefits like practical experience and financial independence, the discussion on disadvantages is slightly underdeveloped and shifts quickly into a suggestion for government intervention (scholarships) rather than fully exploring the inherent drawbacks of the proposal itself. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with specific examples or logical consequences. Your position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis could be improved to better satisfy the requirements of a Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Moreover', and 'Hence' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more refined. For instance, the paragraph discussing the financial burden of studying abroad is a bit abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a singular, well-defined focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'advancement', 'financially stable', and 'cross-cultural exploration'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'builts confidence' (should be 'builds') and 'a international' (should be 'an international'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensure that your word forms are grammatically correct in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. However, there are several recurring grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('all the students can not afford', 'it builts') and article usage ('a internship'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to verb endings and the correct use of articles. Increasing your use of varied, error-free complex sentences will also help elevate your score in this criterion.

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

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