Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07
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)
Numerous individuals believe that , all university undergraduate courses should contain a period of time spent studying out of region or undertaking work experience . This trend have both pros and cons, I deem that the advantage of this outweigh the disasvantages.
The most important advantage of this adversity is the students learn problem-solving skills, work skills and live independently. As a result, the learners are capable to live without their family in other country for their work or study without any problem and it will reduce their home-sickness. In addition, the students have global networking so they have international contacts and a lot of knowledge of their subject and sector. To vindicate, a international student have great skills and experience as compare to a local learner.
Despite this advantages thier are several disadvantages. Primarely, the students get financial burden due to traveling and foreign accommodation. To be more specific, a low-income student can stucked in these problems. Moreover, a student feel stressed and home-sickness without thier family in abroad. This means that, the student get ill and are not able to do study and work in other region. For instant, many students are not complete their education in abroad.
In conclusion, despite many menace, I consider it more advantageous because this will prepare a young learner for thier reponsibilities and problems which he face in future.
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 taking a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, the essay fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the main points regarding skill development and financial burdens are relevant, they are under-developed. The arguments lack sufficient depth and specific examples to fully support the claims made. For instance, the mention of 'global networking' is a good point but is not expanded upon with concrete detail. To improve, you must ensure your response is long enough to allow for a more thorough exploration of your arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Despite this', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as 'To vindicate' or 'For instant'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression of ideas is hindered by the brevity of the text. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between your arguments is more seamless.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are several instances of word choice errors, such as using 'adversity' when you likely meant 'opportunity' or 'initiative', and 'menace' instead of 'drawbacks' or 'challenges'. You also have some spelling errors like 'Primarely' and 'reponsibilities'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary prevents a higher score. Try to incorporate more topic-specific collocations and ensure you are using words in their correct context to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('This trend have', 'a international student have'), incorrect verb forms ('can stucked', 'are not complete'), and missing articles. These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, though they do not completely impede communication. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice and modal verbs. Proofreading your work for these common errors before finishing would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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