Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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)

Undergraduate courses in all colleges have to map out the duration of studies in overseas or work-study opportunity. This, on the one hand is due to the fact that most schools sometimes overlook the student's time shift and you will see that such student instead of spending 2-3 years in school might end up spending 4-5 years on one course. Also, this can alter the student's vision or plans about life as some of them have already had future plans for themselves and having their courses not timed as they progress might bring discord and confusion.

On the other hand, some students prefer their courses not timed as this would give them the leverage to continue working and earning money since the work shift overseas for them is compulsory. Additionally, since the students are studying abroad, some might not like to go back to their countries of origin after studies, so for the fact that their stay is not check-mated and records kept straight, they feel less concerned without bordering on it.

However, I think it is best to include time for students studying in other countries as this will help to reduce the pile of student files in colleges and enhance graduation of old students as to make room for the incoming new ones. In addition, this can also help the student to manage his plans for the future and make him understand that time spent can never be regained. For example, I remember vividly a friend of mine who travelled overseas for studies, and who later graduated according to the duration of course, today he is doing absolutely good for himself as he has established his own firm in the country of origin and has other investments all in his name...that is what I called studying and working with time and vision all together.

In conclusion, timing is key to every aspect of our endeavors and this will help us to align our mission and vision together without bias or hindrances. Focusing on our objective goals and ensuring to meet such goals within a time frame is paramount.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt but struggles with clarity and focus. While you present arguments for and against, the core requirement—discussing whether the advantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements outweigh the disadvantages—is somewhat obscured by confusing phrasing. For example, your discussion about 'time shifts' and 'student files' is difficult to follow and does not clearly link to the benefits of international exposure or professional experience. The position is stated in the third paragraph, but the supporting arguments lack depth and logical connection to the specific topic of studying abroad or work placements. To improve, ensure each paragraph directly addresses the advantages or disadvantages of the specific policy mentioned in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed. Transitions like 'On the other hand' and 'In addition' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is frequently interrupted by unclear phrasing, such as 'check-mated' and 'bordering on it.' Referencing is sometimes ambiguous, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. While the paragraphing structure is present, the internal cohesion within paragraphs needs to be strengthened by ensuring that each sentence logically builds upon the previous one rather than introducing loosely related concepts.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward word choice and non-standard collocations. Phrases like 'map out the duration of studies,' 'time shift,' and 'check-mated' are used incorrectly in this context. While you attempt to use more sophisticated language, the lack of precision often hinders the clarity of your message. To reach a higher band, focus on using vocabulary that is natural and appropriate for an academic context. Avoid inventing phrases or using words that do not accurately convey your intended meaning, as this can lead to confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'such student... might end up'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction (e.g., 'today he is doing absolutely good for himself'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of ellipses and run-on sentences. While the meaning is generally discernible, the frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher level of fluency. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct syntax.

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