Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31
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 5.0)
It is often argued that students have knowledge about the other foreign university, their way of teaching and other experiences or doing work related what they studied in their colleges. So this type of experiences university add in their undergraduate courses. I believe that the advantages are greater than the disadvantages which is mentioned in the following paragraph.
When the university include studying abroad or doing work placement in their courses so it is beneficial from that university. when student studying abroad so they get more better knowledge about their subject. When they study better they grab good job opportunity. When they study abroad university so the connection between the 2 university is better. And getting a good education from university the big company are coming that university for the placement.
In contrast, when the university add study abroad or doing work placement courses in their undergraduate course the fees are increase compared with normal colleges. So the poor parents can not afford that fees so the other children are not aware about it. When the university collab with other foreign university so they add other mandatory programs can delay the graduation. and extended the total time to finish the degree.
In conclusion, Having these type of courses and experience is beneficial for university and student. Because they improve student growth and the university image. so for that reason the advantages are outweigh the disadvantages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages, but the development is limited. The ideas are somewhat repetitive, and the essay fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the depth of the argument. While a position is stated, the supporting points—such as 'better knowledge' or 'fees are increase'—lack specific examples or detailed explanation. To improve, you should expand on your points with concrete examples and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a more thorough exploration of the topic.
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 mechanical and sometimes inaccurate (e.g., 'So this type of experiences', 'In contrast, when the university add'). The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, making the flow feel repetitive. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and ideas more naturally, rather than relying on simple transitions like 'When' or 'So' at the start of every sentence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'good', 'better', and 'study'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'grab good job opportunity' and 'the fees are increase'. The range is insufficient to express complex ideas with precision. To improve, try to incorporate more academic vocabulary related to education and employment, and pay closer attention to word forms and collocations to ensure your writing sounds more natural and professional.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('university add', 'fees are increase'), article usage, and tense consistency. Complex structures are attempted but are often faulty, which can occasionally impede the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement before attempting more complex structures. Proofreading for common errors like missing plurals or incorrect verb forms will also help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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