Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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)

Universities should implement new schemes where in the undergraduate students should spend time studying abroad or to be employed in a work environment. I view a lot of pros in this scheme, in this essay I will state the positive side of this scheme.

These days, university graduates have no real work experience and most of the students have no idea on how industries work, in addition to that, they get too comfortable in their home countries with no interest to explore, while few other peers lean towards exploring foreign education environment, unfortunately most students can't afford to pursue masters in abroad to get a taste of the education system there. Altogether, this could turn out to be a major concern for the upcoming undergraduate learners as they have very little knowing, this could effect their placement opportunities. Hence, some exposure is essential for undergrads to acquire knowledge about how organizations work. The advantages are numerous, firstly, spending a semester or two in abroad universities will give basic exposure towards different kinds of fellow peers and tutors. The learning way also changes and overall, this can expand horizons for students.

When it comes to having some real time work experience, internships in well known organizations can enlighten undergrads and it will be a great use to showcase their theoretical knowledge on some real world projects. Moreover, this also can be a real life simulation where undergrad peers can get a real touch at how things take place in corporate world with attending calls, meetings, deadlines. This is a strategical move to display the amount of pressure employees go through. While a few demerits could be that undergraduate students can go through some pressure and stress, it will also shake them off from their comfort.

In conclusion, all universities should give a thought on having a program for a semester where students will go to universities in abroad or they get an internship in a renowned organization, as this could a turning point in the history of universities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages of study abroad and work placements. However, the task asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. While you mention that 'a few demerits could be that undergraduate students can go through some pressure', this is not fully developed or balanced against the advantages. The position is clear, but the discussion of the 'disadvantages' side is minimal, which limits the depth of the argument. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide a more balanced exploration of both sides before concluding which outweighs the other.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'firstly', 'moreover', and 'in conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical or repetitive. For example, the phrase 'in addition to that' and 'altogether' could be replaced with more sophisticated linking phrases to improve the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion, though the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be tightened to improve the overall logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge', 'corporate world', and 'strategical move'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'very little knowing' (should be 'very little knowledge') and 'learning way' (should be 'learning style' or 'pedagogical approach'). You also use 'in abroad' repeatedly, which is grammatically incorrect; it should simply be 'abroad'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions and articles, such as 'in the undergraduate students' and 'in abroad'. There are also some issues with subject-verb agreement and word order, such as 'this could effect their placement' (should be 'affect'). While you attempt complex sentences, these errors persist. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like article usage and verb forms.

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

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