Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 undergraduate courses of the university must add a time frame to experience the foreign study or working plate form. On the one hand, this notion sounds tremendously beneficial for the pupils whereas, everything comes with pros and cons by the time.

Since the centuries, university courses used to design on a pattern which whole purpose is to facilitate the students theoretically. The advancement in all aspects is mandatory which needs something new and now it is the requirement of pupil to come out of the syllabus and experience the horizon. Overall it is clearly beneficial for pupils to explore the practical ground along with theoretical approach. Evidently, a film student never become a film maker without knowing about the depth of film set, camera handling, light and above all the mood of related people. Furthermore, studying abroad gives new place to the students where they can work in different cultures and with different ethnicities of people. No doubt, this is the right way to narrow down the path to the career of a student.

On the other hand, the cons could be seen clearly. These plate forms included study abroad or to work on a place during the course could be distraction for pupil. The cons could be psychological, financial and cultural. Shifting of the mind from student set up to a practical and then back to the student life, is tremendous challenge for the pupils. In this case many of them stay with these options once they get comfortable. Stepping in developed countries from underdeveloped countries could be beneficial for numerous students financially. It is the fact that can give break to the career of a student brutally.

In my opinion, studying abroad or to get working plate form in student time, a tremendous approach for a pupil. But there should be the set of scrutiny to deal with the pros and cons.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both sides of the proposal and give a clear overall view that overseas study or work experience is beneficial, while recognising possible drawbacks. The film-student example usefully illustrates why practical experience can complement theory, and you mention psychological, financial and cultural challenges. However, the advantages are developed more clearly than the disadvantages, and the final position is qualified rather than fully explained: “there should be the set of scrutiny” does not specify what safeguards or conditions you support. Some claims, such as students remaining in placements once comfortable or the effect on careers, are unclear and need explanation. Develop each main point with a specific consequence or example, and state directly whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a concluding opinion. This makes the overall direction understandable, and signposts such as “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help distinguish the two sides. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship clearly. For example, “whereas, everything comes with pros and cons” does not connect the ideas smoothly, while “In this case” has an unclear reference. The conclusion also introduces “scrutiny” without linking it to a specific concern raised earlier. Use transitions that show the precise relationship between ideas, and make references explicit so the reader can follow the argument without having to infer connections.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “theoretical,” “practical,” “ethnicities,” and “psychological, financial and cultural,” which helps convey relevant ideas. There are also some noticeable word-choice, collocation and spelling problems that make parts of the argument difficult to interpret. For instance, “working plate form” appears to mean a work placement, and “narrow down the path to the career” is not a natural expression. Phrases such as “student set up” and “break to the career … brutally” are also unclear. Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than more elaborate wording, and check spelling and word forms. This would make your meaning more precise while retaining the range you are attempting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “a pattern which whole purpose is to facilitate the students theoretically” and a conditional structure beginning “In this case.” However, some errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles and verb forms reduce accuracy. For example, “a film student never become” needs subject–verb agreement, and “a tremendous approach for a pupil” is missing a finite verb. The opening sentence also has an awkwardly joined clause after “whereas.” These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the general argument, but they sometimes make individual sentences hard to follow. Practise building complex sentences around a clear main clause, then check agreement, articles and punctuation.

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