Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

I strongly believe that universities should definitely allow and support their students to study in the other countries as exchange student for some time as well as provide work placements in foreign countries.

If educational institutes implement this program it will not only give their students an exposure of the other world but also help them understand the new and advance studies. Through this, undergrad students can learn on a whole different aspect and build their own connections.

And we can say the exact for doing a work placement in other countries and cities. By working abroad, people can gain valuable experiences by working in prestigious places that will enhance their skills and knowledge and help them in a long run.

I do believe the benefits of this overpower the disadvantages, which I am assuming are close to none as I do not see any disadvantage in obtaining invaluable knowledge and information by giving students a chance to aim higher.

I, myself have not any prior experience of studying abroad or work placement, but I surely can say if I had a chance to study abroad or do any work placement when I was an undergrad, I would 100 percent not miss that opportunity and gain as much experience and education as possible. But I have came across various personalities on social media who got the chance to study in other countries and their experience had been unimaginable and worth their time. And I believe we should understand from other people experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you believe the benefits of overseas study and placements outweigh the disadvantages. You give relevant reasons, including exposure to different educational approaches, building connections, and developing workplace skills. However, the response addresses the task only partially because the disadvantages are dismissed as “close to none” rather than considered. The benefits are also asserted more than explained: for example, “enhance their skills and knowledge” would be stronger with a specific account of what students learn or how this helps their future careers. The personal reflection and social-media examples support your view, but remain general. To strengthen the response, discuss at least one realistic drawback and explain why the benefits still outweigh it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has an overall progression from your position, to benefits of study abroad, to work placements, and then to personal reflection. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these points, and linking expressions such as “Through this” and “By working abroad” show how ideas relate. However, the organisation is not consistently smooth: the opening combines two proposals, while the later paragraph beginning “I, myself” shifts from personal experience to social-media examples without a clear transition. Some connections are also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “And” to begin sentences. Develop a clearer sequence in which each paragraph has one main purpose, and use more precise references and transitions to show how each example supports your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “exchange student,” “work placements,” “prestigious places,” and “valuable experiences.” These choices make your main ideas understandable, and you attempt more formal expressions such as “invaluable knowledge.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which keeps the expression from being consistently precise. For example, “an exposure of the other world” and “learn on a whole different aspect” do not convey your meaning naturally; “new and advance studies” also has an incorrect word form. Repeated general terms such as “experience,” “knowledge,” and “chance” could be replaced with more specific language about academic methods, professional skills, or career opportunities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including the structure “it will not only give their students … but also help them,” and most of your meaning remains understandable. However, there are several errors in sentence structure, verb forms, articles, and punctuation. For instance, “I, myself have not any prior experience” needs a different verb construction, while “I have came across” uses an incorrect past participle. In “as an exchange student,” the article and singular/plural form need attention, and the sentence beginning “But I have came across” is joined awkwardly to the preceding thought. Practise accurate present-perfect forms, article use, and sentence boundaries, then check each longer sentence for a complete and well-connected structure.

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