Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 5.0)

All university should have an additional studies and work placement in overseas for under graduate students for a period of time. In my opinion it is important for all individuals who are studying to gain pratical knowledge along with theoritical.

In this essay it will be argued whether the postives of this overtake negatives.

One of the benefits of having a study in abroad is that the pupils can experience the knoweledge they have and can relate their studies with practicing it .On one hand students will explore the further studies they will do and communication skills can be increased by adapting different culture. On the other hand students gets confidence by having work understanding with expertise ones. In my personal experience I studied abroad for 2months in computer science further more I grasp more practical understanding and management of time while working.

The cons of studying overseas should also be considered as it needs a finance for study morever it includes the visa process, accommodation should be major problem which should be taken in consideration. Individuals have financial burden and food management issues. All countries have different culture so to adapt a new culture is difficult for someone.In addition , while working with unknown people or intentions of others we are unaware of it. In my knoledge when I visited to another country I have faced a huge problem of finance and accommodation.

I partially agrees with both of the view as there are prons , there are also cons.

So it can be concluded that by having study abroad for a period can have experience and also get practical awarness and also have difficulties while working there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad or doing a work placement. However, the student's position is somewhat contradictory. In the introduction, the writer states that it is important for individuals to gain practical knowledge, and outlines both pros and cons in the body paragraphs. Yet, the conclusion states that the writer 'partially agrees with both of the view', which is a slightly confused formulation of the prompt's instruction to weigh whether advantages outweigh disadvantages. Ideas are present, such as gaining practical understanding, cultural adaptation, and financial burdens, but they remain somewhat under-developed and lack extended examples, leaning heavily on brief personal anecdotes like 'I studied abroad for 2months'. This places the response comfortably at Band 5.0, where ideas are introduced and relevant, but limited and partially developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, attempting an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by abrupt transitions and a lack of cohesive devices. For instance, the transition from the benefits paragraph to the drawbacks paragraph relies on basic markers like 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand', but the contrast is muddled because the third paragraph abruptly introduces disadvantages without a clear overarching topic sentence linking back to the prompt. Furthermore, referencing is sometimes unclear, as seen in phrases like 'while working with unknown people or intentions of others we are unaware of it'. Paragraphing is visibly attempted, but internal cohesion is mechanical and inadequate in places, corresponding to the Band 5 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, such as 'studies', 'knowledge', 'practical', and 'culture'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text, including 'additional studies and work placement in overseas', 'postives of this overtake negatives', 'experience the knoweledge', and 'needs a finance for study'. Spelling errors also occur, such as 'pratical', 'theoritical', 'postives', 'knoweledge', 'morever', 'knoledge', and 'prons'. While the range is sufficient to convey a general meaning, the frequency of lexical errors and limited vocabulary control restrict the score to a Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences are simple or attempt complex forms that are marred by frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'All university should have', 'students gets confidence', 'accommodation should be major problem which should be taken in consideration', and 'I partially agrees with both of the view'. Subject-verb agreement errors ('All university should have', 'students gets', 'I partially agrees') and prepositional errors ('study in abroad', 'visited to another country') are frequent. These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the grammar from reaching a Band 6, placing it firmly at Band 5.0 due to frequent errors in attempted complex forms.

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

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