Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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, studying abroad or doing a work placement has become increasingly common in modern society, Although this trend has both advantages and disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

On the one hand, there are some disadvantages to this trend, One major drawback is miss familly, this is because studying at a different country and they can't be close of them, For example study at Rome and own country is algeria and this so far, As a result, they would has been far away of familly , Therefore, this can have a negative impact on people's lives.

On the other hand, I believe that the advantages are more significant, One major benefit it that meet new people and new language, this is because would studying on different country, in this case require to learning the new language for communication, For example would to be learn Italy language, As a result that's its lead to learn a new skills, Furthermore, become more awereness which makes this trend more beneficial in long term.

In conclusion, although studying or working abroad has some disadvanatges, I strongly believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages because of its positive effects on improving self.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear overall opinion that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. However, the discussion is only partial and the ideas are under-developed. The disadvantage is mainly that students miss their families, while the benefits are meeting people, learning a language and gaining awareness; these points need fuller explanation and more relevant support. The examples about studying in Rome and learning Italian are brief and do not show clearly how a placement or overseas study benefits students’ education or future work. The response also does not meet the required 250-word minimum, which limits how fully you can develop your reasons. Explain each point with a specific consequence or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph for disadvantages, one for advantages, and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify your position and the two sides of the argument. However, progression within the body paragraphs is difficult to follow because several ideas are joined into long, unclear sequences. For example, the disadvantage paragraph moves from being far from family to an example and then repeats the same consequence. Linking phrases such as “On the one hand,” “For example,” and “As a result” are used, but their connections are sometimes inaccurate or mechanical. Use shorter, complete sentences and make each paragraph develop one main point in a clear order, with references that show how each example supports it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “work placement,” “communication,” “negative impact,” and “beneficial in long term.” This gives you a basic range for expressing your position, but vocabulary is limited and several word choices or forms make the meaning unclear. Phrases such as “miss familly,” “meet new people and new language,” and “more awereness” are not natural or precise in this context; spelling errors such as “disadvanatges” also reduce accuracy. Try learning useful topic collocations and checking word forms and spelling. For instance, describe students as being “away from their families,” and explain that they can “develop language skills” or “gain cultural awareness.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to use complex links, including “Although,” “because,” and “which,” but the sentence structures are often faulty, and errors can make the reader work to understand your meaning. Examples include “studying at a different country and they can't be close of them,” “would has been far away,” and “this is because would studying.” These show problems with clause construction, verb forms, and prepositions. There are also punctuation issues, such as joining sentences with commas and using a capital letter after a comma. Build accuracy with simple subject–verb sentences first, then add one correctly formed subordinate clause. For example: “Students may feel homesick because they are far from their families.”

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