Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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)

Undergraduate Courses offered by the universities should include international study tour or work placement. I agree as the exposure to international level industry trend would broader the young minds; furthermore, work placement helps in learning skills required in the job market. Advantages are more in this scenario.

Looking at the current Pakistan education system HEC itself has claimed many courses offered by private universities waste students time and money as there are no jobs related to them. Additionally, for any undergraduate course it is now mandatory to get at least 1 internship during the tenure. It is clear that if students only pass universities without hands on practical experience or skill; it would be difficult for them to land a job. With the advancement in technology and artificial intelligence it has become more challenging for undergraduates to survive in competitive job market. Doing an internship at a reputed company not only helps to experience company environment but also adds experience to the resume.

Visiting abroad can also be beneficial countries like China that have become very advance in tech for example the Chinese electric cars have now dominated the Tesla EV's in terms of cost and features engineering undergraduates can spend some of their university time visiting these tech factories to know about the difficulties the company faced and how management works.

In conclusion, there advantages and benefits that students can get are way more than the disadvantages as it would help them get the practical skills they would need; when stepping into the job market or will definitely give an edge in any interview they would give.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. You provide relevant examples, such as the Pakistani education system and the Chinese automotive industry, to support your arguments. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the point about work placements is well-supported, the discussion on studying abroad is less detailed and lacks a direct link to how it specifically benefits the undergraduate experience beyond general observation. To reach a higher band, ensure that both aspects of the prompt (study abroad and work placement) are explored with equal depth and that the conclusion synthesizes the main points more effectively rather than just restating the position.

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 'furthermore', 'additionally', and 'in conclusion' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. For instance, the shift from the Pakistani education context to the example of China is quite sudden. Additionally, there are some issues with referencing and punctuation, such as the missing semicolon or conjunction usage in the sentence 'if students only pass universities without hands on practical experience or skill; it would be difficult'. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'industry trend', 'competitive job market', and 'hands-on practical experience'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'broader the young minds' (should be 'broaden') and 'very advance' (should be 'advanced'). Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'visiting abroad' (better as 'studying abroad' or 'international exchange'). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context. The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your ideas clearly, but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('there advantages and benefits... are') and missing articles ('in competitive job market'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of semicolons and commas. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your argument, they indicate a lack of control over more complex grammatical structures. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors like article usage and subject-verb agreement, and practice constructing complex sentences with more accurate punctuation.

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

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