Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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)

it is often argued all university undergraduate student required to spend time on studying abroad or doing a work placement . it creates many difficulties . according to my propensity the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages because it's provide more practical knowledge as well as help to build new skills .

first and formost , they have more brighter side the first and major advantage of this program help to build new skills and gain practical knowledge . university education often provide theoratical knowledge , where as these concept provide the knowledege about real occupation and how to do work on real platform . for instance anybody want to become a data analyst they have no experiance and knowledge about that program academic theory only helps to understand the basic structure but in work placement opportunity they have full access to work on real project and built their skill fastly .

The another advantage of studying abroad or doing a work placement significant benefits is that studying or working on foreign environment helps to improve student independence and communication .moreover they learn ample types of skill like leadership ,teamwork , communication . these skills help to get new job in market . addtionaly make ample of projects which helps to make great CV.

However, the main disadvantages of spending time in studying and working on abroad that is more costly everyone not afford that money and sometimes makes language barrier .

To conclude , if student work and study on abroad it's provide more beneficial helps to make new skills and gain practical knowledge the major darker side of that it was more expensive everybody not afford that money .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, expressing a clear position from the beginning that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The student presents relevant main ideas, such as gaining practical knowledge, developing new skills, and improving independence through studying abroad or work placements. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive, especially in the body paragraphs where points like skill-building and practical knowledge are reiterated without deep extension. While the counter-argument regarding cost and language barriers is briefly mentioned, it is under-developed. These features align best with Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement and attempts a logical progression with basic transition markers such as 'first and formost', 'moreover', and 'To conclude'. However, paragraphing is somewhat problematic; the introduction and conclusion are brief, and referencing is occasionally faulty or mechanical, such as 'The another advantage'. Cohesive devices are sometimes used awkwardly or inaccurately, and the flow is disrupted by punctuation and capitalization issues throughout the text. Overall, these limitations reflect the characteristics of a Band 5.5, rounded to a Band 6.0 due to the clear attempt at logical sequencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'propensity', 'practical knowledge', and 'data analyst'. However, there are frequent lexical errors and inappropriate word choices, such as 'more brighter side', 'theoratical', 'ample types of skill', and 'foreign environment' versus 'on abroad'. Spelling errors like 'formost', 'theoratical', 'experiance', 'built' (for build), 'fastly', 'addtionaly', and 'ample' also occur. These errors do not completely impede communication, but they restrict the score to Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, but grammatical control is weak. There are frequent errors in verb forms, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'student required to spend', 'it's provide', 'where as these concept provide', 'everybody not afford that money', and 'student work and study on abroad it's provide'. Punctuation and capitalization are also heavily flawed throughout the text. While meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of basic and complex errors places this performance firmly at Band 5.0.

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

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