Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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)

The undergraduate courses of all universities should introduce period of time that undergraduate students spent exploring abroad studies or spent it doing a work placement.

The main advantage of it is that it may help the students to explore and improve their knowledge by doing some researches in that period of time. It also improve their vision of focus and also provide them a sense of freedom. Moreover, it also helps them to improve their sense of thinking. Another advantage is that it brought their visions and improve their learning and understanding skills. Furthermore, it also provide them a leisure time in their busy routine and refresges their minds.

The main disadvantges of it is that the students can not handle the pressure of both work and study at the same time.It also effects their regular and practical life. The students does not have enough time to manage their studies and it affects their grades automatically. For instance, if a student tries to manage the burden of study work at the same time. It impacts their physical and mental health so badly that they become weak.

From my perspective, this short period of time should be given to the undergraduates so that they can do the things of their choice that give them happiness. Furthermore, it also give them the experience of exploration and provide them a sense of freedom to do the things of their interests. It also give them a study life balance to refresh their mind.

In conclusion, we can say that their advantages can outweight disadvantages and students get a break from their busy study routine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. However, the development of ideas is limited. While you mention benefits like 'improving knowledge' and 'sense of freedom,' these points are not sufficiently supported with specific examples or logical depth. The disadvantages section focuses on the pressure of balancing work and study, which is relevant, but the argument remains somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete examples or detailed explanations of how these experiences specifically impact a student's academic or professional trajectory.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion.' However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. The progression of ideas within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between points is abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good,' 'improve,' and 'things.' There are also some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'exploring abroad studies' and 'vision of focus,' which sound unnatural. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to education and professional development. Avoiding repetitive phrasing and attempting to use more sophisticated vocabulary will help you demonstrate a stronger command of the language.

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 impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'it also improve,' 'the students does not'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'refresges'), and awkward phrasing. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with verb tenses and pluralisation, and aim to construct more complex sentences with greater precision.

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

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