Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19
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)
Every undergrad course should have a time period of studying abroad or doing work placement. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks as this would offer necessary skills and experience.
There are several advantages that come with this approach. Firstly, young professionals will get to learn and explore different curricula that would help them in polishing their skills. These young individuals can help in the domestic development of their nation. These individuals will be able to learn diverse learning practices that will be to accommodate them in using these in their early careers back in their home country. These students will get to experience state of the art research facilities and get mentorship of great professionals. These students will be able to improve working practices of industry when they will get to apply an efficient array of techniques. Doing placement work will help them gain experience.
Individuals who have experience of placement work tend to be more trained and efficient in comparison to the fresh graduates who are starting their first job. Having an additional experience can make these people great mentors for people who were not fortunate to avail such opportunities.
In conclusion, university undergraduate courses should include a timespan of studying abroad or doing placement work. These offer benefits such as nurturing young professionals in the beginning of their careers, giving them early hand experience, making them great mentors for less fortunate, leading them to improve industrial practices when they become professionals, and increasing the domestic development of their home country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing whether university undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or doing a work placement, taking a clear position that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. The student covers both advantages of studying abroad, such as experiencing state-of-the-art research facilities, and work placements, such as gaining practical experience. However, the ideas are somewhat repetitive and lack deeper extension or specific real-world examples, relying instead on generalized statements like "help in the domestic development of their nation." While all parts of the task are addressed, the development of ideas is limited rather than fully elaborated. This performance aligns with Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion, though the progression of ideas within the body paragraphs feels slightly repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, such as the general benefits and the specific outcomes of placement work. Cohesive devices are used, but they can be a bit mechanical or repetitive in nature, as seen with phrases like "These students will be able to" starting consecutive sentences. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical flow is occasionally hindered by redundancy. Overall, the organizational structure meets the criteria for Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as "professionals," "curricula," "mentorship," and "fresh graduates." There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but word choice and collocation are occasionally awkward or imprecise, such as "time period of studying abroad" instead of "period of studying abroad" and "early hand experience" instead of "hands-on experience." Spelling and word-choice errors are minimal and do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 6 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms throughout the essay. There are instances of effective complex structures, such as "Individuals who have experience of placement work tend to be more trained and efficient in comparison to the fresh graduates who are starting their first job." However, there are also noticeable grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as "that will be to accommodate them in using these" and "a timespan of studying abroad." While these errors occasionally cause the reader to pause, they rarely impede overall communication. This mix of accurate complex sentences and persistent minor errors reflects Band 6 performance.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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