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 an undeniable fact that university plays paramount role in individual's life in today's contemporary epoch. All university undergraduate syllabus should include a period of time where they have to spent a time studying in foreign institute or finding a real job. In my opinion, the advantages and the disadvantages are partly divided and the reasons of it is described in below paragraphs.
As per the pros, the first and the foremost reason is that, the students get experience and saves their lot of time. To elaborate this, the students do work related to their course which benefits them in pragmatic way, by allowing them to do work physically rather than theoretical study, they also get experience of their field. For instance, a news displays that in the Stanford university more than half of the toppers are doing work in a small company which pay salary to them and their concept is also clear. As a result, it also increased the enthusiasm of the other students too.
On the other hand, the students go foreign for their studies have a chance to explore the world on their own capability. To illustrate this, the people who are going abroad for their studies have to live alone, from washing their clothes to cook food on their own. For example, as per the times of India the people have to work by themselves to pay their fees along with the living expenses. As a result, this impact badly on the students cognitive part which leads them to depression sometimes or any serious injury on their mental health.
The inexorable discussion on this subject matter can keep on going, but observing the facts and taking a deep reverence, I would like to espouse my notion that the student get a chance to develop their skills and living a different life but due to too mush pressure they sometimes suffers with the mental health difficulties.
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 the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention practical experience and independence, the arguments lack depth and specific, logical elaboration. For instance, the example regarding Stanford students is vague and does not clearly link to the broader argument about the benefits of work placements. Furthermore, your position is somewhat inconsistent; you acknowledge benefits but focus heavily on the negative impact on mental health without fully weighing whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages as requested. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a clear, well-supported argument that directly answers the 'outweigh' aspect of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the other hand' and 'To illustrate this' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing. For example, the transition from discussing the benefits of work to the negative mental health impacts is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as 'the reasons of it is described in below paragraphs,' which is grammatically awkward and impacts the overall flow. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words will help create a more natural progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some more sophisticated terms like 'contemporary epoch,' 'pragmatic,' and 'inexorable.' However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'the reasons of it is described,' 'news displays,' and 'too mush pressure.' These errors occasionally make the text sound unnatural. While you have enough vocabulary to convey your meaning, the lack of precision and the presence of word-choice errors limit your score. To reach a higher band, focus on using collocations accurately and ensuring that your vocabulary choices fit the formal academic context of the essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'university plays paramount role,' 'reasons of it is'), article misuse, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'the students go foreign,' 'impact badly on the students cognitive part'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally require the reader to re-read to understand the intended meaning. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of consistent control over basic and complex grammar prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for articles, pluralisation, and verb tense consistency would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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