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 the university undergraduate courses should include the period of time spent studying abroad. However, instead of this they should include the work placement. From my perspective, I am partially agree with both of statements. By placing a sight on both statements I present my opinion on both below.
Initially, on the first hand, all universities undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad, due to the fact that if an undergraduate courses should include studying abroad then a student must has to go abroad to make a climb in his/her knowledge, career and future. Studying abroad is a best opportunity for a student to get an international degree. Moreover, it also helps student to make his/her career. Also to earn a handsome amount. For instance, after doing a course if someone went to abroad then he will have knowledge about his field and cannot face much obstacles in his way of earning.
On the other hand, doing a work placement after a course make a person experienced about his work. Accordingly, he can join a club and then work for it which also increases his experience. He will meet some other experienced people during his work placement. From my perspective, during his work session ( internship maybe) he can also earn a handsome amount and some experience too. For instance, if a student did a course in medical field during his work placement he should know more about it.
However, it all depends on the student and the undergraduate courses that universities have provided. If they are in trend and according to the taste of the student then they will be beneficial for him. We have two cases. Firstly, if these undergraduate courses are trending but not according to the students taste. Secondly, if they according to the students will but not trending. In both cases, there will be the loss of student and his efforts not university.
To sum up, student should choose anything according to his will and taste. In which he will put all his effort. So, he will be successful in his life.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to address both parts of the prompt regarding studying abroad and work placements, presenting a partially agreed position. However, the development of ideas is limited and somewhat repetitive. For example, the arguments regarding studying abroad simply state that it helps a student get an international degree and earn money without exploring deeper academic or cultural implications. The discussion around work placements touches on experience and networking, but remains quite superficial. Furthermore, the final paragraph shifts focus somewhat towards personal taste and trends rather than thoroughly weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the two educational requirements. This places the response firmly in Band 5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
There is an attempt at paragraphing, but the overall progression of ideas is disjointed. While transitional markers like 'Initially, on the first hand,' and 'On the other hand' are used, some expressions are unnatural or contradictory, such as 'From my perspective, I am partially agree' and 'By placing a sight on both statements.' Paragraphing is used to separate topics, but the final body paragraph introduces tangential ideas about student trends and personal tastes that disrupt the logical flow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, leading to a mechanical feel in how sentences are linked together. This aligns with the Band 5 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent awkward collocations and word choice errors. Examples include 'place a sight on both statements,' 'earn a handsome amount' (repeated multiple times), and 'student's taste.' The writer attempts some less common phrasing, such as 'make a climb in his/her knowledge,' but this sounds unnatural and indicates limited control over lexical selection. While meaning is generally conveyed, the lexical limitations and spelling/word-choice inaccuracies constrain the score to a Band 5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a mix of simple and attempting complex sentence forms, but these are frequently faulty. There are persistent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('a student must has to go'), incorrect auxiliary usage ('if someone went to abroad'), and prepositional errors ('in medical field'). Additionally, there are structural awkwardnesses like 'All the university undergraduate courses should include the period...' Frequent errors cause occasional strain for the reader, although communication is not completely impeded. This performance corresponds to Band 5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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