Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26
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)
Some people believe that universities should encourage a program for the students to explore study abroad or work environments during their semester. I believe it would be an amazing addition to undergraduate studies as students can get practical knowledge and career opportunities. Although It has some disadvantages such as homesickness and expensive courses. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
One of the major advantages of studying abroad is, students can improve their practical knowledge and could find more career opportunities in the future. For example, as an architect I personally experienced this thing that every field needs a practical skill by working as a volunteer or doing internships in any reputable firm or organization it has long term benefits. Studying abroad will improve the students in various forms such as exploring a different and exciting culture and tradition, foreign language, environment and communication skills.
On the other hand, there might be some disadvantages, many people can not afford studying abroad. Since it is quite expensive and students will miss their families making them homesick. In addition, their university education may be interrupted temporarily. Accordingly, studying abroad is a valuable contribution to students' career and future achievements. From my perspective, I strongly believe that students should go for studying abroad or internships, because it has major benefits for every student.
In conclusion, Although university education is most important for the students. Therefore, the authorities should include a period where students can spend their time in studying abroad or doing relevant work to enhance their practical knowledge and self development skills.
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 the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention 'practical knowledge' and 'career opportunities', these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The mention of 'homesickness' and 'expensive courses' is relevant, but the explanation remains brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with detailed reasoning rather than just listed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is occasionally mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as starting a sentence with 'Although' followed by a comma and then 'However' in the introduction, which creates a fragmented structure. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is more precise throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'practical knowledge', 'reputable firm', and 'self development'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'experienced this thing' and 'improve the students in various forms'. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and avoiding informal or vague expressions. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary related to education and professional development would also be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with punctuation and sentence fragments. For example, the sentence 'Although It has some disadvantages such as homesickness and expensive courses. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.' is grammatically incorrect due to the improper use of 'Although' and the resulting sentence fragment. Additionally, there are minor errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage. To improve, focus on mastering complex sentence construction and proofreading for basic punctuation and grammatical consistency.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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