Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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)

In all the higher universities, in which the undergraduate courses should include the work placement for the students or to spent a lot of time on studying abroad. This assay will discuss the work placement through university has adnvantages which outweigh the disadvantages.

After completition of the course, college should give the chance to the students for go on the work placement because it gives the chance to students make independently and take responsibility by many ways. Firstly, the work placement is the best way for the students to gain additional knowledge about the modern world and the expendeture of money. Such as, if students work in higher company so they gain exprience by their collegues and know how to earn money. Additionally, if students directly go to work placement by which they gain responsibilities and do their work independently without any help. Moreover, they also reduced the burden from their parents and give the best life to them.

On the other hand, students doing a work placement has some drawbacks. Firstly, they have lack exprience about the work or no much information about the lifestyle which cause difficulties. For example, if they direct join any organisation without any exprience then they suffer by lower income, bulleys by their manager. Additionally, they cannot enjoy their life because they have a workload on responsibilities of family. so, they have a time which spent on the studying abroad.

To sume up, university doing a work placement has benefits which outweigh the drawbacks which is they lean how to earn and make independently. It has also some drawbacks such as they cannot enjoy their life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task only partially. The writer attempts to discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of including work placements or studying abroad, but the position is not always clearly sustained throughout the essay. Ideas are limited and under-developed, relying on generalised assertions rather than thorough explanation. For instance, the discussion on advantages briefly touches on gaining knowledge, earning money, and taking responsibility, but these points remain superficial without adequate supporting details or well-developed examples. Similarly, the points raised regarding disadvantages, such as a lack of experience or suffering from lower income and bullying, are mentioned cursorily and lack sufficient elaboration. To move to a higher band, the writer needs to present a fully developed position with well-supported ideas that explore both sides of the argument in greater depth and with clearer relevance to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation to the response, with an introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides, and a brief conclusion, but there is no clear overall progression throughout the text. The writer attempts to use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', and 'On the other hand', but these are sometimes repetitive, mechanical, or used inaccurately, as seen in phrases like 'To sume up, university doing a work placement has benefits'. Paragraphing is attempted, though the grouping of ideas within paragraphs lacks logical flow, particularly in the third paragraph where the transition between workplace challenges and studying abroad feels abrupt. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact progression of thought. To achieve a higher score, the writer must ensure that ideas are logically sequenced with smoother transitions and more flexible, accurate use of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common items such as 'expendeture' and 'organisation', but noticeable errors in word choice, word form, and spelling occur frequently throughout the text. Examples include spelling errors like 'completition' and 'sume up', awkward phrasing such as 'higher universities', 'higher company', and 'bulleys by their manager', and incorrect word forms like 'make independently'. These lexical errors and awkward collocations cause some difficulty for the reader and impede smooth communication at times. To progress to a higher band, the writer needs to expand their vocabulary range, pay closer attention to precise word choice and collocations, and improve accuracy in spelling and word formation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response demonstrates a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on basic sentence patterns with frequent errors. Attempts at complex sentences are often faulty, leading to ungrammatical constructions such as 'In all the higher universities, in which the undergraduate courses should include the work placement for the students or to spent a lot of time on studying abroad', which lacks a main clause. There are frequent errors in verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, articles, and prepositions inside grammatical patterns, such as 'students make independently', 'they have a time which spent on the studying abroad', and 'students directly go to work placement by which they gain responsibilities'. These frequent errors cause strain and difficulty for the reader. To reach a higher standard, the writer must improve control over basic grammar, reduce errors in verb tenses and clause structures, and build a greater variety of error-free complex sentences.

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