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 universities which offers undergratuate programs should add a lecture on leisure time spending study abroad or doing work placement. In my view, it plays a crucial role in the scholars life to learning about pursing study in abroad and work placement.

To commence with, there are several issues in low socio-economic nations like Pakistan, India and Nepal. Therefore, learners should plan their bright future as soon as possible. Consequently, our authorities should provide lecture on study abroad which develops knowledge in our scholars during their graduation it must be helpful for their better career. Moreover, our state must have a benefit in term of various fees which are required in attestation from different government departments like Ministery of foreign affairs, IBCC and their concern board like Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan etc.

Furthermore, learners should have internship opportunies when they are in last symester or last year in their specific field. Thus, it can boost the confidence of scholar. In terms of advantages, it has certain drawbacks like more students will move abroad to pursue their higher education and later settled. Consequently, intelligent scholars will left the country. Afterwards, it has a bad effect on our states growth. Nevertheless, every individual has a basic right to take a better decision for their future.

In conclusion, our authorities should take step and add a lecture regarding study abroad and work placement it has certain drawbacks yet, the benefits are extremely more and every citizen has a basic right to pursue their life on their own decisions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to address the prompt regarding whether the advantages of studying abroad or doing a work placement during an undergraduate degree outweigh the disadvantages. However, the interpretation of the prompt drifts somewhat into suggesting universities should provide lectures on studying abroad rather than fully evaluating the core proposition of mandatory study abroad or work placements. The position is stated, noting that advantages outweigh disadvantages despite concerns such as a brain drain. Ideas are presented, but they tend to be limited and under-developed, particularly regarding the specific impacts on academic curricula. For example, the mention of government departments and attestation fees in Pakistan, India, and Nepal is tangential to the main debate. While all parts of the prompt are touched upon, the lack of full extension and the presence of tangential arguments place this response at Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay displays some organizational structure with a clear introduction and conclusion, and the use of basic transition markers such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore'. However, there is no clear overall progression of ideas, and the logical links between sentences can be abrupt or confusing. For instance, the transition from discussing students moving abroad to government fees and then back to internships lacks smooth connectivity. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas within paragraphs feels disjointed. Referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly with pronouns like 'it' and 'our states growth', which obscures the logical flow. Overall, the cohesive devices are frequently mechanical or inaccurate, fitting the Band 5 descriptors well.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The lexical resource used in the essay is limited and repetitive, which minimally conveys the message but restricts the score. The student uses basic vocabulary such as 'bright future', 'better career', and 'bad effect'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'offers undergratuate programs', 'scholars life', 'pursing study in abroad', and 'intelligent scholars will left the country'. Spelling errors also occur, such as 'symester' instead of semester, and 'Ministery'. While the vocabulary is adequate for basic communication, the frequent errors and limited range prevent the response from reaching Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a limited range of grammatical structures, relying primarily on simple sentences alongside some attempted complex forms. However, attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty, leading to frequent grammatical errors that can cause some difficulty for the reader. Examples include agreement and tense issues like 'All universities which offers', 'which develops knowledge in our scholars during their graduation it must be helpful', and 'Thus, it can boost the confidence of scholar'. Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent throughout the text. Because errors are frequent and basic structures dominate with recurring inaccuracies, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.

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

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