Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
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 the modern era, learners must have the right to gain employment experience or knowledge from abroad during undergraduate studies. It is weidly believed that this issue has been significant risen in all developed societies. There are some benefits as well as some drawbacks. This essay will discuss both positive and negative sides.
On the one hand, due to this, the university students gain numerous benefits. The major positive impact is that they enhance their communication skills as well as improving their knowledge. For instance, students explor distinct customs, rituals and discipline through spending time abroad. In addition, because of this free time period, they avail a substantial amount of opportunities and get experience from different departments, which helps them for a better future work options and build a better lifestyle.
On the other hand, a number of negative points also occur due to this. The main one is that, due to financial issues, unwealthy learner faces difficulties because many families cannot afford this; that is why these pupils just waste their time in other activities. Such as, bad friendship company, plays and other insignificant stuff. Furthermore, in today's competitive world, the students will not achieve their degree on time, and they will be left behind by their age group of peers. This will lead to challenges for getting jobs. And they also realize a lack of confidence in their behaviour.
In conclusion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in the context of this subject. This course puts a number of positive impact on students future and they avail significant opportunities and skills. Great impact on the country's economy and reduce detrimental impact.
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 all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including study abroad or work placements in undergraduate courses, and provides a clear concluding position. The ideas are generally relevant, but some are under-developed or supported with weak generalisations, such as the claim that unwealthy learners will waste time in 'bad friendship company, plays and other insignificant stuff'. While the writer attempts to support their position, the arguments lack depth and specific real-world examples. This places the response comfortably at Band 6, as it addresses all parts of the task with relevant, albeit somewhat superficial, ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is divided into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs representing opposing sides, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. However, referencing and cohesion can be somewhat mechanical or clumsy, as seen in phrases like 'due to this, the university students gain' and 'that is why these pupils just waste their time'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and there is a clear overall progression from introduction through arguments to a final summary, matching the expectations of Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'substantive amount', 'significant', and 'detrimental impact'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'weidly' (widely), 'significant risen' (significantly risen), 'unwealthy' (disadvantaged or low-income), and 'explor' (explore). These errors do not seriously impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score to Band 6, where the writer shows an adequate range but struggles with precision and word formation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The text displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional and relative clauses ('because many families cannot afford this; that is why these pupils...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout, including 'this issue has been significant risen', 'learners must have the right to gain', and fragment sentences like 'Such as, bad friendship company, plays and other insignificant stuff.' Punctuation and grammatical control are sometimes shaky, though the errors rarely impede overall comprehension. This balance of mixed structures and persistent errors corresponds to a Band 6.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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