Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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)
Many students argue that semester exchange programs both have its pros and cons. Making all the university undergraduate students spend time studying their courses abroad or doing a work placement mostly have advantages. There are also some disavantages that are non negotiable. This essay will discuss point of views before reaching a conclusion.
Studying abroad have so many perks. There are better oppurtunities awaiting for them in abroad. Quality of education is promised. The difficulties students face, shapes them into a whole new person by making them strong and confident. The currency exchange rates helps the working professionals earn large amounts. A good worklife balance can be achieved. Another positive aspect is that living internationally improve communication skills, and provide a better lifestyle. Students get to live and learn about that countries culture.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks living overseas. Living expenses are quite high. Students face a lot of financial troubles. Expenses should be shared and calculated effectively. Another major disadvantage is getting homesick. Students cannot travel back and fro whenever they want just to visit home. Language barrier is also one of the major issue that is faced by students.
In conclusion, I think the advantages of studying abroad or working there outnumber the disadvantages. Although students face a lot of difficulties, their hardwork and willpower makes them strong and confident. A better lifestyle can be achieved living abroad. Better quality of education and worklife balance is given. Overall, in my opinion all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent abroad or doing a work placement.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages, and it clearly states a position in the introduction and conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the mention of 'currency exchange rates' helping professionals earn large amounts is not clearly linked to the context of undergraduate students. The points regarding 'financial troubles' and 'homesickness' are relevant but remain at a surface level. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper explanations for your arguments, ensuring that every point directly supports your overall stance on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a logical flow from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For instance, the transition 'Another positive aspect is' and 'Another major disadvantage is' are used in a formulaic way. Additionally, some sentences within paragraphs feel disconnected, such as the sudden mention of 'currency exchange rates' in the first body paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several spelling errors, such as 'oppurtunities' and 'disavantages', and some awkward phrasing like 'in abroad' and 'that countries culture'. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited, and some collocations are unnatural. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary and ensuring correct spelling and word forms. Expanding your range to include more academic collocations would significantly strengthen this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally affect readability. Subject-verb agreement is a recurring issue, such as 'Studying abroad have' (should be 'has') and 'rates helps' (should be 'help'). There are also punctuation and article errors, such as 'that countries culture' (should be 'that country's culture') and 'in abroad' (should be 'abroad'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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