Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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)

In this modern world, some students want to explore outside the books. Some students want to visit more than in their country, whereas others want to work in their domain. There are two choices that, university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. Students should spend some time in another country for their studies rather than studying and working at the same time.

Firstly, students who go abroad to study will definitely experience a lot, which is mind-blowing at the undergraduate level. They will learn about other cultures and their rules. It is significantly important for students to leave their comfort zone as early as possible. Furthermore, the period of time students spend abroad will allow them to experience independent life, they will do their chores on their own, and they will feel strong.

Conversely, when students work while students are studying, it will help them to understand the theory and practical work together. Several universities have tough schedules, so students can not manage study and work at the same time, and this policy can become a barrier for students to get their undergraduate degree. Nevertheless, some countries do not have better work placements and a better economy in every field consequently, students are not able to avail this opportunity.

In conclusion, students should go abroad for study purposes and experience it. This policy will help students more than manage their studies better and do a work placement with a packed schedule.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. However, the development is limited. While you mention benefits like cultural exposure and independence, the discussion on work placements is somewhat contradictory and lacks depth. You argue that work placements are difficult due to 'tough schedules' but do not fully explore the potential long-term career advantages, which is a key part of the prompt. The position is clear, but the arguments are somewhat superficial and could be better supported with more specific examples or logical elaboration to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'Conversely', and 'In conclusion' to signal transitions. However, the logical progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak. For example, the transition between the benefits of studying abroad and the challenges of work placements feels abrupt. Additionally, some sentences are slightly repetitive, and the referencing (e.g., 'this policy') is occasionally vague, which makes the flow feel a bit mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduate level', 'comfort zone', and 'practical work'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'explore outside the books' or 'feel strong' (which is vague in this context). There is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated collocations. To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas, as the current level is sufficient but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully use some complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'some students want to visit more than in their country' (awkward phrasing) and 'students can not manage study and work at the same time' (missing articles or prepositional support). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some comma splices, such as '...independent life, they will do their chores...'. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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