Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · 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 4.5)

In the past, there were few universities in which major subjects were taught. The education were completed at college and there were no concept of studing abroad. As time passes, individuals aware from that sort of things and think about studing abroad. Today, all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or also doing a work placement.

There would be many advanatges and disadvantages of this concept. Initially, this would be benefical for the students if they will about to studying abroad. It help them to explore different places and learn about distinct lifestyle. It also help them to develop more knowledge and learn from previous mistake. Moreover, they will about to studying and met distinct students. but they will find placement so they will not be able to communite with other people due language barrier, its the main disadvantage of this concept.

There would be little more disadvantages of studying abroad. Students will have stress and tension because they have to gain good marks. So when they will stressful, it harm their health. Students faces many hurdles about studying abraod. In addition, they will always stressful and become rude and cold. But they have to manage those challanges

In conclusion, in the past there were few universites that provide lectures about major subjects. There were no concept of studying abroad. But as time passes, things become easier. I firmly believe that all the universits under gradugate courses should be include in a period of tiem spent styding abroad or doing a work placement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the main prompt regarding whether the advantages of mandating a period of study abroad or work placement outweigh the disadvantages. A position is presented, stating that the writer firmly believes such courses should include these experiences. However, the development of ideas is limited and sometimes repetitive. The student mentions benefits like exploring different places and drawbacks such as stress and language barriers, but these points are underdeveloped and lack concrete examples. The introduction and conclusion contain unnecessary historical contextualisation that detracts slightly from direct focus on the prompt. Because all parts of the task are addressed albeit superficially, the response achieves a Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs addressing advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. However, the overall progression lacks clarity and logical flow. Cohesive devices are basic and sometimes inaccurate or misused, such as 'Initially' and 'Moreover'. Sentences within paragraphs are often disjointed, and the referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'they will about to studying'). Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas is erratic, with conclusion-like historical remarks repeated in the final paragraph. Because the structural progression is faulty and cohesion is mechanical, this merits a Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 based on general paragraph segmentation.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The lexical resource is basic and repetitive. The student relies on common, simple vocabulary such as 'studying abroad', 'advantages', 'disadvantages', and 'places'. There are numerous spelling errors throughout the text, including 'advanatges', 'benefical', 'communite', 'abraod', 'universites', and 'under gradugate'. Word choice and collocation are frequently awkward, such as 'individuals aware from that sort of things' and 'they will stressful'. The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the basic message, but the high frequency of errors places it firmly in the Band 4.5 to 5.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

Grammatical control is weak, with a very limited range of structures. Most sentences contain noticeable errors, particularly with verb forms and modal auxiliary usage (e.g., 'The education were completed', 'if they will about to studying', 'it harm their health', 'they will always stressful'). Complex sentence attempts almost invariably result in ungrammatical formulations. Punctuation is also erratic, with missing capitalisation and run-on thoughts. These persistent errors cause some difficulty for the reader and reflect Band 4.0 performance descriptors.

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