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)

Practical experience and research are more crucial then university courses. Although some might consider it negative, I believe it to be extremely beneficial. Not only because of work experience helps you to find great job and increased the oppurnity level, but also because of it improves you knowledge.

There are multiple advantages associated with Topic. Firstly, Studying abroad assits you to find better opportunity in developed forigen countries. It can be considered as

the leading benefit of this development. However , Developed countries offered multiple vacancies for talented students. For example, One of my friend received a job oppurtunity from one of the multinational company from canada during his studies and this happened through his continiously research. , this mega benefit I believe has the potential to make this development a positive development.

Secondly, apart from studing abroad, work placement can also be another major benefit. Because its enhance your confidence as well as communication level. For instance, If you do any internship during your undergraduation, it boost your you practical experience. In addition , it enhance your confidence level and also client communication. Hence, 2nd Advantage can be labelled as the most significant advantage, giving this development a positive outlook.

Finally, apart from books, research study can also be considered a leading benefit of Topic. Since, only bookish study has not fully given the information about any course, If someone want to grip on that course, then its complusory to do some practical and research work on it.

To sum up, even though Topic might have some drawbacks too, but I believe that the benefit it

brings in terms of work experience, enhance creativity level and upgrade your knowlege can make this development

an overall positive one.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages of studying abroad and work placements. However, the development is inconsistent. While you present relevant ideas, such as improved confidence and job prospects, the arguments are often repetitive and lack depth. For instance, the point about 'research' is introduced but not clearly linked to the core requirement of the prompt regarding university courses. The position is clear, but the supporting examples, such as the anecdote about a friend, are somewhat anecdotal and lack the analytical depth required for a higher band. To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a distinct, well-developed argument that directly answers the 'outweigh' aspect of the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Hence, 2nd Advantage can be labelled as...' is awkward, and the use of 'Topic' as a noun to refer to the prompt is unnatural and confusing. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed. While there is a logical progression, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive structure of the paragraphs limit the coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are frequent spelling errors, such as 'oppurnity', 'forigen', 'assits', and 'complusory'. Additionally, the word choice is often repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'benefit' and 'advantage'. The phrase 'bookish study' is non-standard, and the use of 'Topic' to refer to the essay prompt is inappropriate. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensure accurate spelling of key terms related to education and employment.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

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., 'work experience helps you to find'), incorrect article usage, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'it enhance your confidence'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage.

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

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