Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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)

Some people think that all university students should study in another country or work in a company for some time. I think this is a good idea because it has more good points than bad points.

First, studying in another country can give students new experience. They can see a new place and meet new people. They can also learn about a new culture. For example, a Mongolian student can go to Australia and study there. The student can speak English every day and this can help improve their English.

working in a company can also be very useful. Students can learn about their future jobs. They can see how people work and how to work with other people. For example, a student who studies business can work in a shop or company. This can help the student understand the real work. It can also help them find a job after university.

there are some bad points. Going to another country can cost a lot of money. Students need money for food, travel and a place to live. Some students can also feel sad because they are far from their family.

In conclusion, there are some problems with studying or working abroad. I think the good points are more important. Students can get new experience, learn new things and become more confident.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of studying or working abroad. However, the essay fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. The arguments provided, such as 'learning about a new culture' or 'costing a lot of money', are relevant but remain superficial and lack the depth required for a higher band score. The position is clear, but the supporting points are under-developed due to the brevity of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a basic attempt at progression, moving from benefits to drawbacks. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive (e.g., 'First', 'They can also', 'It can also'). The transitions between sentences are somewhat mechanical, and the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'good points', 'bad points', and 'new experience' are used frequently. There is little attempt to use less common or more precise academic vocabulary. While the meaning is always clear, the range is limited, which prevents the essay from demonstrating the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, you should focus on using more specific synonyms and academic collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writing consists mostly of simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they are often basic. There are occasional errors, such as the lack of capitalization at the start of sentences (e.g., 'working in a company', 'there are some bad points'). However, these errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, you need to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or relative clauses, and ensure consistent attention to punctuation and capitalization.

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

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