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)

All universities undergraduates courses ought to include a period of studying abroad or doing a work placement, I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages because its helps to gain practical experience, develop confidence and communication skills.

On the one hand, one of the major merit of this is gain practical experience. This us due to the fact that, in abroad universities provide practical and theorical knowledge which help learners to handle real life situations. Another worth considering merit is develop confidence. To justify, living away from parents help students to manage their time, solve problems and make decisions independently. More, they can build their communication skills. This means that, by studying in abroad learners get opportunity to speak with different countries people they may also interact with them and learn foriegn language.

On the other hand, one of the major disadvantage of this trend is high financial cost. To elaborate, most of the families can not afford international travel, accommodation and food related expenses because they are more expensive. Secondly, disruption to academic studies. It leads that, work interrupt regular academics studies and leave students with less to prepare for examinations. For instance, some talented students unable to participate in an overseas programme because they can not afford additional costs.

To conclude, there are many advantageous of studying in abroad or doing a work placement, the main pitfall of this trend is high financial cost and effect on exam preparation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you discuss relevant benefits—practical experience, confidence and communication—as well as costs and disruption to study. This addresses both sides of the question. However, the comparison is not fully resolved: the conclusion lists the benefits and drawbacks but does not clearly explain why the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Some points also need fuller support. For example, the claim that studying abroad provides practical knowledge is broad, while the financial-cost point is more concrete. The response is 9 words below the required minimum, so it does not meet the task’s length requirement. Develop one or two examples and make the final weighing-up explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages and a conclusion. The contrast markers “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the two sides, and the ideas generally progress in a sensible order. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear. “More” is an awkward transition into communication skills, and “It leads that” does not clearly express the relationship between work placements and exam preparation. The conclusion also repeats the main points rather than drawing them together into a clear comparison. Use more precise links between claims and explanations, and ensure each paragraph develops a connected line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “practical experience,” “communication skills,” “independently,” “financial cost” and “accommodation.” These choices show an adequate range for discussing the issue. However, several inaccurate word forms, collocations and spelling errors reduce precision: “major merit,” “theorical knowledge,” “in abroad,” “foriegn language” and “many advantageous” are examples. Some expressions are also vague, such as “work interrupt regular academics studies.” These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main ideas, but they make the writing less natural. Check spelling carefully and learn common word partnerships, especially for discussing education, expenses and the effects of placements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including explanations introduced by “because” and “To justify,” and the main meaning is usually understandable. However, errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles and prepositions occur across the response. For example, “I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages because its helps” has a faulty clause and incorrect pronoun form; “living away from parents help students” has subject–verb disagreement; and “most of the families can not afford” uses an unnecessary article. The opening also joins two independent clauses with a comma. These issues sometimes make the reader pause, although your overall message remains clear. Practise checking each sentence for a complete structure, a clear subject–verb match and accurate articles.

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