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)

Nowadays,bachelors courses of all university should have a specific time to spent studying abroad or doing a job placement. In my opinion, i believe that the benefit of this would outweight the drawbacks. It can help financial and professional improvement but it could be affect in mental health .

Firstly, when a student finish undergraduate or near to the finishing line they have to think about their future therefore if university course include a period of time spent abroad or doing a work it can help to being them financial and professional . Students when they will visit a different country they can join several international meetings or conversation with them it will be helpful for being more polite and professional . After finishing some years in their university courses if they join a job it can help their financial because when they complete their undergraduate they can use their early income money in a business.

On the other site , students when they move a different country they could feel home sickness or they could not cope up with new environment and job which could affect on their mental health. Also in a middle time of the study if they move different country they could be afraid about new curriculum which also could be affect on their mental health.

In conclusion,It will be very beneficial for students study and career if university courses include the criteria to study abroad and job placement but its sometime quite challenging for some students those have home sickness or adaptation problem but its manageable .

AI examiner evaluation

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 mention financial and professional benefits, the explanation remains superficial, such as the vague claim that students will become 'more polite'. The disadvantages regarding mental health are introduced but lack specific examples or depth. To improve, you should provide more concrete illustrations—for instance, explaining how a specific type of work placement builds industry-relevant skills or how cultural immersion specifically fosters soft skills. The position is clear throughout, but the arguments require more substantial elaboration to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the other side', and 'In conclusion' to signal the progression of your argument. However, the flow within paragraphs is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'them' in the second paragraph without a clear antecedent. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother, more sophisticated flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your main points. However, there is a reliance on basic or repetitive language, such as 'help' and 'good'. There are also instances of incorrect word choice and collocation, such as 'being them financial' instead of 'improving their financial situation' and 'middle time of the study' instead of 'mid-way through their studies'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise academic vocabulary and collocations. Expanding your range of synonyms and focusing on word forms (e.g., 'financial' vs 'financially') will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'bachelors courses... should have'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'when a student finish'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it could be affect in mental health'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent use of verb tenses throughout your writing.

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

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