Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18

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 this modern era, practical experience is essential for getting a job and becoming a expert. Without it, students just have theoretical knowledge which is not enough to bcome a successful in the life. So it will be a positive initiative from the university if they set the rule of compulsory practical knowledge and experience with traditional curriculum activities. I firmly believe that this notion has more benefits then the disadvantage. It will just not gave practical knowledge but also tells the information of current market environment and demand of jobs for which they can prepare themself to compete or start their own business.

The primary advantage is that, every student will start to do efforts for practical knowledge. They will just no depend on educational insistution but also will help to imporve personal relations in the field of work. For example, when i was in my 6th semester at university then i started a internship in the MCB bank. Before getting internship i learn how to apply for a internship and job. When i started apply i observe a lot of new websites and opinions which i never read while acedamic periods. After graduation the knowledge which i get that time for geeting job, i am applying this currently and due to that experience i acquire a job easily. This experience just not help me to getting a job but also save my time and reduce stress level which mostly students get after graduation. So i think that i should be compulsory at undergraduate level to get some practical experience either by internship or in the form of job.

However, either it have lot of benefits but it also have few disadvantages like students will diverted from acedamic activities toward work. For instance, when my friend get practical knowledge he get the job offer. He decided to start that job so that it will help him in the form of financial benefits and will continoue his study. When he started work, his focus diverted from study toward job and started to loosing marks in the exams. So i think that experience should be for limited time while studying at undergraduate level.

in conclusion, work placement should be compulsory at university level just for not practical knowledge but also obsrve the need and demand of job market but for limited time. Otherwise it will effect direction of the student.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The candidate addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position that the advantages of compulsory studying abroad or work placements outweigh the disadvantages. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant personal examples, such as the writer's internship experience at MCB bank. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise in parts, and some arguments are slightly repetitive or under-developed. For instance, the counter-argument regarding academic distraction is introduced effectively through a friend's example, but the overall development of ideas fluctuates in depth. The response presents a consistent point of view from the introduction through to the conclusion, satisfying the main requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a logical overall organisation with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing advantages and disadvantages, and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is utilised sufficiently to separate main ideas. However, cohesion at the sentence level is sometimes mechanical or faulty, with awkward transitional phrases such as 'So it will be a positive initiative' and 'However, either it have lot of benefits'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and logical links between sentences can feel abrupt. Despite these minor issues, the progression of ideas is generally clear throughout the text, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'curriculum activities', 'current market environment', and 'financial benefits'. However, there are numerous noticeable errors in word choice, spelling, and word formation, including 'bcome', 'acess', 'acedamic', 'insistution', 'imporve', and 'geeting'. These errors do not seriously impede communication, as the writer's meaning remains understandable, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band. The vocabulary is sometimes repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'practical knowledge' and 'experience'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though complex structures are frequently marred by grammatical errors. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement and tense consistency, such as 'it have lot of benefits', 'when my friend get practical knowledge he get', and 'knowledge which i get that time'. Punctuation errors and missing articles are also common throughout the text. While these errors do not completely obscure the meaning and the writer successfully communicates their core message, the high frequency of grammatical inaccuracies places the response firmly within the Band 5.0 range.

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