Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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)

Nowadays, all university undergraduate courses shuld include a period of time spent studying abroad . It is strongly belived that this issue has become increasingly significant in all societies of the world . While this trends offers numerous benefits to time spend studying abroad or doing a work placement, certain drawbacks are also there such as time management and health . This essay will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages ofuniversity undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement .

To begin with the advantages of university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement one vital benefit is earn money . This may lead to we can earn our expenses . For instance, we can work in ahotel and earn money in this way . In addition, another prime benefit is we can explore many places . This may result in we can improve our learning habits and skills . For example we can see new things as a result we will make many ideas to explore things .

On the other hand, some disadvantages are also there like time management . This may lead oto wastage of time . For examplewe can waste our time to doing extra work this cause overload and burden . Finally, health issue is a very crucial problem . For instance, spend alot of time on studying abroad or a work could effect our health such as stress , anxiety and depression .

In conclusion, although there are multiple valuable advantages , some demerits are also there like student donot study they can be a part of irregular activites . In my personal perspective, there advantages are more than disadvantages . However, the problems can be solved by the help of university administrator . We can talk with them resolve the problems .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the topic and give a clear overall view in the conclusion: “there advantages are more than disadvantages.” You also identify possible benefits and drawbacks, including earning money, exploring new places, time management, and health. However, the response only partially answers the question because it does not clearly compare whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages throughout. Several points are under-developed or not fully relevant: earning money is linked to a work placement, but the essay does not explain how this applies to studying abroad, and “irregular activities” is introduced without explanation. Develop fewer ideas with specific reasoning or examples, and explain why the benefits are more significant than the costs. The opening also repeats much of the task rather than establishing a focused position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is often weak: several claims are followed by vague statements or examples that do not clearly explain the connection. For instance, “we can explore many places” is followed by “improve our learning habits and skills” without showing how this happens. Linking phrases such as “This may lead to” are repeated mechanically, and some references are unclear. Build each paragraph around a main point, then explain and illustrate it in a logical sequence; use a wider range of clear connections rather than repeating the same formula.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “work placement,” “time management,” “expenses,” “stress,” and “anxiety,” so the reader can identify the main subject and concerns. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “earn our expenses,” “time spend studying abroad,” and “wastage of time.” Spelling and word-form errors such as “shuld,” “belived,” “alot,” and “activites” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise collocations and avoid repeating general phrases such as “prime benefit” and “crucial problem.” Learning vocabulary in complete phrases will help you express the ideas more naturally and clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt a few complex structures, including “While this trends offers…” and “although there are multiple valuable advantages,” and you use examples and cause-and-effect clauses. However, the range is limited, and many attempted structures are faulty. For example, “This may lead to we can earn our expenses” does not form a correct clause, while “spend alot of time … could effect our health” has problems with the subject and verb pattern. Agreement and sentence construction are also inconsistent, as in “there advantages are more than disadvantages.” Punctuation spacing and sentence boundaries are sometimes awkward. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them using clauses such as “because,” “which,” and “although”; check subject–verb agreement and verb forms in each sentence.

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