Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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)

I largely agree that institutions should include a course related to study abroad or encourage students to participate in internship programs.These courses are vital for the individual growth, enabling them to explore other cultural traditions and exposure to high-quality education.

The prime reason is that studying abroad help students to explore others culture and traditions as well access to world class education.This is because they spent their time with different countries people during study and make new friends.As a result, they learn new languages, cultural norms and try to adjust themselves according to their environment.For example, many students who want to study abroad always try to familiar themselves with local culture and language.As they believe that these things make their daily life easier.

Another important reason is that currently many universities have contracted with numerous organisations to facilitate students with practical work.This is because it enables the students to interact with industries experts and learn about production processes.Therefore individuals will have the opportunity to build and sharp their skills, which are not only crucial for their professional career but also enhances their chances of getting job after graduation.For instance, now many employers have great expectations from students after graduation such as work experience during study and proof of work .

Some people argue that study abroad is costly,as it is only for short time opportunity so why should we spend to much during study.Although, this concern is valid, it can be addressed by targeting scholarships, study exchange programs.As many institutions have links with international institutes that also promote semester exchange programs for undergraduate students at a low cost.

Therefore, i strongly support the view that every student should be encouraged to study abroad and must involve themselves in practical skills related to their studies, because these opportunities help them in their

professional life but also in growth of their career.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the benefits of study abroad and work placements. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding 'world-class education' is mentioned but not expanded upon with specific examples or logical depth. The counter-argument regarding cost is addressed, but the discussion remains brief. To achieve a higher band, you should provide more detailed explanations and concrete examples to support your claims, ensuring that the link between the experience and the resulting professional or personal growth is more thoroughly explored.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'The prime reason', 'Another important reason', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices can feel somewhat mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother; for example, the transition between the discussion of cultural norms and the example provided is slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise will help improve the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'facilitate', 'professional career', and 'cultural norms'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'familiar themselves' (should be 'familiarize themselves') and 'sharp their skills' (should be 'sharpen their skills'). Furthermore, some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'production processes' in a general context. To improve, focus on learning word families and common collocations, and try to incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater clarity and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('studying abroad help students') and article usage ('explore others culture'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and commas. While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain errors that slightly impede the reader's flow. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly subject-verb agreement and article usage, and practice using a wider variety of complex structures with greater precision.

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

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