Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11
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 5.0)
Many people think university students should go to study abroad or do work placement. I think this idea have good things and bad things. But the good things is more than bad things.First, going to study in another country is very good for student. Student can learn new language and see new culture. For example, my friend go to America for study university course. He can speak English very well now and he have many international friends. Also, work placement is very helpful. Students can learn how to do a real job. They can get experience before finish university. This is very good for find future job easily.However, there are some bad things too. Studying abroad is very expensive. Many students do not have money for buy plane ticket and living. It is very hard for poor family. Also, if student do work placement, they have less time for study books. They might fail university exam because they are very tired after work every day.In conclusion, studying abroad and work placement have disadvantages like high cost and no time. But I believe the advantages is bigger. Students can get good experience and learn new skills for their life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of study abroad and work placements. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the depth of the arguments. While the position is clear, the ideas are underdeveloped; for instance, the point about 'poor families' is mentioned but not expanded upon with sufficient detail or nuance. To reach a higher band, you must extend your arguments with more specific examples and analysis to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for pros and cons, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is very basic and repetitive (e.g., 'First', 'Also', 'However'). The transitions between sentences feel mechanical, and there is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. While the overall progression is clear, the limited length prevents the development of a more cohesive structure. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring better flow between sentences will help improve this score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on simple terms like 'good things', 'bad things', and 'very'. There is little attempt to use academic or topic-specific vocabulary. Phrases such as 'study books' and 'get experience' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher levels. To improve, you should focus on using more varied and precise vocabulary, such as 'academic resources' instead of 'study books' or 'financial constraints' instead of 'no money'. Expanding your range of synonyms and collocations is essential for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'this idea have', 'my friend go', 'student do work placement') and article usage (e.g., 'for find future job'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors indicate a lack of control over basic grammar. To improve, you need to practice complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or conditional sentences, and pay closer attention to singular/plural agreement and verb tenses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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