Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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)

It is often argued that university students should spend some time studying abroad or doing a work placement as part of their degree. in my opinion i think that the advantages of this requirement outweigh the disadvantages. because it can provide students with a valuable experience.

One major advantage of studying abroad or doing a work placement is that students can gain valuable experiences. Studying in another country can help them get to be more independent and improve their socialising and communication skills by interacting with people more often with people that have different backgrounds also can get to know many international students in their field. Similar to a work placement it is very helpful for students to study their field before going abroad and it will be easier to find a more suitable job after university and improve their career.

However, there are also disadvantages. Studying abroad or taking a work placement can be expensive which can create financial difficulties for students. Also for students it might be hard to adapt in a different culture as well the environment and some students can might have a hard time being alone and doing all the work them self. But i think that the advantages have a long term benefits of gaining international and professional experience.

In conclusion, although studying abroad or a work placement can be challenging and expensive for some students i believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because of the value and the experience it can bring.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, focusing on skill development, employability, and the challenges of adaptation and cost. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive; for instance, the benefit of 'valuable experience' is mentioned multiple times without significant expansion. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of how these experiences translate into long-term professional success. The conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, but the overall development remains at a general level rather than a fully extended one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the advantages, then the disadvantages, and finally the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, you rely heavily on simple transitions like 'Also' and 'But'. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases, such as 'Furthermore', 'Conversely', or 'In light of these factors', to better connect your ideas and improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You use basic terms like 'valuable experience' and 'good' repeatedly. While the meaning is always clear, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary related to education and career development. For example, instead of 'get to be more independent', you could use 'foster self-reliance' or 'cultivate autonomy'. Expanding your vocabulary will help you express your ideas with more nuance and impact.

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 distract the reader. Examples include 'in my opinion i think' (redundant and capitalization error), 'get to be more independent' (awkward phrasing), and 'some students can might have' (double modal). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with sentence fragments and run-on sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct modal usage, and ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb. Proofreading for basic capitalization and punctuation will also significantly improve the quality of your writing.

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

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