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)

All university bachelor's programs are required to include a period of time that is spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. This is becoming a crucial topic nowadays. I strongly appreciate that it has more advantages than disadvantages.

A student that pursue his bachelor's degree in one country should spent his crucial time for study abroad in another country. It is not just essential for his degree but it also plays a vital role in polishing human nature. During study abroad, the student meets new peoples he adjusts his lifestyle according to the culture of the other country. The student has to leave his comfort zone and face the other country's hurdles that make him more resilient and more self-confident. Since he continued his degree which have value but he also gained a lot of experience with his degree that is more beneficial for his practical life.

Somehow, there are also some disadvantages of studying abroad. The major effect is that some students can not focus on their physical health and may fall ill. This not only disturbs them physically but also mentally they become tired. Also another substantial problem is that when the student reaches another country, he is alone and the sense of loneliness make his journey more difficult mostly, students quit their journey at this stage. But there is also a reason that's the change in environment the atmosphere there put a vast effect on a student.

In conclusion, I think that there are more advantages of studying abroad than it's disadvantages. The advantages of studying abroad definitely outweigh its disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention benefits like resilience and self-confidence, these points are not fully extended with concrete examples or deeper analysis. The disadvantages section is also brief and lacks a strong link back to the core argument of why the advantages are superior. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more detailed explanation or a specific real-world example to support your claims, rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. For example, the transition between ideas within the second paragraph is slightly disjointed, and the use of 'Also' and 'But' at the start of sentences is a bit simplistic. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to create a smoother flow between sentences and paragraphs, ensuring that the relationship between your ideas is clearly signposted for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'resilient', 'substantial', and 'practical life'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'polishing human nature' or 'the atmosphere there put a vast effect'. These choices sound slightly unnatural. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary. Avoid over-relying on basic verbs and try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms to express your ideas with greater clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('a student that pursue', 'the sense of loneliness make'), incorrect verb forms ('should spent'), and awkward phrasing ('Since he continued his degree which have value'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent verb tense usage throughout your writing.

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

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