Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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)

It is often argues that undergraduate programs in the universities should include sessions on studying abroad and completing work placements. Although this will create a financial pressure as well as academic pressure on students but, I believe the benefits of such practical and international exposure will outweigh its drawbacks.

The primary disadvantage of his topic is that it will create academic difficulties for the learners. To clarify, they have to put a lot of extra efforts to cope with their subjects. They tend to feel it like a burden on themselves. As a result, their performance may be disturbed. In addition to it, the introduction of extra session will create a financial burden on their parents or guardians.

Despite the aforementioned demerits, it cannot be denied that the its advantages outweigh them. Firstly, it will help the students to gain practical work experience for their work placement, which is not possible in theoretical classrooms. They will attain knowledge about teamwork, communication and work environment. For example, if a student is well known about the tasks, deadlines, and working experiences then he/she can compete the tasks on time.

Furthemore, utilisation of time for classes for studying overseas will give them a exposure about different cultures and enhance their way of thinking. This is to say that, they will be informed in advance about the difficulties and work opportunities that they can grab in the future. For instance, if anyone has a knowledge about the study opportunities for higher studies in abroad, then they are able to secure them for their future.

In conclusion, these classes will come with difficulties of academic and financial pressure but due to the work exposure and assistance of these sessions they are highly recommended.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are relevant, though some development is slightly repetitive. For instance, the discussion on 'academic difficulties' is somewhat generic, and the examples provided, such as 'if a student is well known about the tasks', lack specific detail or depth. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more concrete, real-world examples or more nuanced explanations of how these experiences specifically impact a student's future career path or personal development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'In addition to it', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Despite the aforementioned demerits, it cannot be denied that the its advantages'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical classrooms', 'international exposure', and 'financial burden'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'well known about the tasks' (should be 'familiar with') and 'give them a exposure' (should be 'give them exposure'). To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more naturally and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'It is often argues' (should be 'argued'), 'the its advantages' (redundant article), and 'if anyone has a knowledge' (should be 'has knowledge'). Additionally, there are punctuation issues, such as the unnecessary comma in 'Although this will create... but, I believe'. Increasing the number of error-free sentences and refining your control over complex structures will help you achieve a higher score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.