Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

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)

All university undergraduate course should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement in their own country or abroad. I agree that the advantages of this would outweigh than disadvantages.

First advantage of that, students become more confident. During the undergraduation study, if they have mandatory course to study at abroad. Students will go abroad from there comfor zone and spend some time in studying with the new people. This will help them to learn new culture and they do their basic work by them selfs. When they come back after their mandatory study students get more confident and faith in there own. Undergraduate students age are between 18-21. This is the age, when students gain their confidence to survive in other study and life. For example, One of my cousion brother is doing his undergraduate in Information Technology. For his mid term project, he have to study specific computer course. The institution he is studying, they have other branch in abroad. They sent students to abroad for couple of month for completion that course. He was excited to learn that course and meet new people. When he came back, he had good attitude, confidence in himself.

In addition, while studying undergraduate if student do work placement will give good impact on students and his/her families also. Students becomes mature and they dont get rely on their parents money. When they do work placement, student get know how to earn in real life. Pocket money is just to spend money, but when you earn money by yourself we got know how, where and when we have to spend money. For example, While I was studting my bachelors, I used to worked at coffee shop. After that, I got to know spending money wisely is the good thing.

The disadvantage of studying abroad for a period of time is not all parents can afford the money to send their kids abroad. They cant afford the expense, travel fees and many more. Another disadvange of work placement while studying is, some students dont get focus on their study. after earning one time, they dont wanted to do study.

In conclusion, students get more confident and mature when they do work placement or study abroad while university undergraduate course. Based on this, advantages of this would be outweigh than disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad or doing work placements, and clearly states an opinion that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant personal and observed examples, such as the mention of a cousin studying information technology and personal experience working in a coffee shop. However, some arguments tend to over-generalise, and certain supporting points lack sufficient depth to reach a higher band. Overall, the position is clear throughout, and the main tenets of Task Achievement are satisfied at a Band 6.5 level, rounded to 6.0 based on the balance of development.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate advantages, disadvantages, and the final stance. However, cohesion at the sentence level is sometimes faulty or mechanical. Transition phrases are basic, such as 'First advantage of that', 'In addition', and 'The disadvantage', which restricts progression. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen with pronouns like 'they' and 'their' referring ambiguously back to multiple nouns. While the logical flow is mostly maintained, these mechanical linkages place the response firmly in the Band 6 category.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully communicating key concepts related to education, employment, and personal development. There are attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'mandatory', 'undergraduation', and 'finance', but these are accompanied by frequent word choice and spelling errors, such as 'comfor zone' instead of 'comfort zone', 'cousion brother', and 'dont get rely'. Despite these inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient for the reader to follow the argument without major difficulty, fitting the descriptors for Band 5.5 to 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including tense inconsistencies ('While I was studting... I used to worked'), missing articles, and incorrect preposition use. For example, the sentence 'For his mid term project, he have to study specific computer course' contains subject-verb agreement and article errors. While these errors rarely completely impede communication, their frequency prevents the writing from achieving a Band 6.0. The overall control of grammar is indicative of a Band 5.0.

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