Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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)

In the modern world, some individuals believe that in the college curriculum having an internship or studying at a foreign university in the last semester should be compulsory for undergraduates and this has become common and has attracted significant public attention. It has become a topic of widespread debate due to its impact on individuals and society. This essay will discuss both advantages and disadvantages and state my opinion.

To commence, one of the major advantages is that an internship should count as experience on a students' resume and it would be beneficial in corporate sector. For example, if a company is looking for an experienced candidate for particular role and a student gives an interview as a fresher so there is less chance for selection but if they have any experience of six months, so it would be easy for company to sort among students. In addition, foreign education bring a lot of benefits such as language, cultural adaptation, further job opportunities etc. Thus, it is beneficial in long-term for individuals and society.

On the other hand, one of the major disadvantages is that families did not afford for abroad education because they don't have enough money or anything for collateral. Somehow, they arrange college fees but students face some mental issues such as homesickness, anxiety, language and cultural barrier and the major is food. Hence, it will impact on individuals and society in long period.

In my opinion, completing internship or attending foreign education is crucial for student future for job safety and other benefits. Although, language barrier and cultural diversity are manage by students itself. So we believe that advantages are outweigh the disadvantage because student compatible future is more than these small issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages and provides a clear position. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding financial constraints is mentioned but not fully explored in terms of potential solutions or institutional support. The conclusion is clear but relies on somewhat simplistic reasoning, stating that 'small issues' like mental health and financial barriers are outweighed by future benefits without providing a nuanced justification. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or deeper analysis of the implications of these policies.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To commence', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'the major is food' which lacks a clear connection to the previous clause. The use of cohesive devices is adequate but could be more varied and sophisticated to improve the overall flow and logical progression of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'undergraduates', 'curriculum', and 'collateral'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'manage by students itself' (should be 'managed by the students themselves') and 'student compatible future'. The range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('foreign education bring'), article usage, and sentence construction ('if a company is looking... so there is less chance'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed correctly.

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

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