Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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)

Some people argue that all the courses of undergraduate students should include a specific period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. I strongly believe that the disadvantages of this outweighs the advantages which makes me support a balanced suggestion which I will explain in this essay.

On the one hand, university education is the highest form of academic studies. University students are the bright future of every state. The suggestion by some individuals to take from the time of courses to spend in studying abroad or doing a work placement will cause additional responsibilities on students, thus driving their attention away from their main subjects. Meanwhile, we must put in mind the psychological state of students and the extra stress this will lead. There is also another problem which is the expenses of studying that the students will have to pay to study abroad. Analysts conducted research in Germany on university students found out that 80% of them can only focus on one main thing.

On the other hand, people who support this idea claim that before the creation of modern universities, students used to work, study abroad, and still could handle both. Nearly all of our historical scientists didn't go to a modern university, studied many subjects while they were working. They also see various modern successful examples of students whom they can do both jobs.

In my opinion, I firmly believe in a balanced approach by making studying abroad during courses or doing a work placement optional, so we can get the biggest potential out of the student.

In conclusion, more freedom for students for what they can decide for the future will help them. We also should not add more stress and expenses on anyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the question and state a clear view against making overseas study or placements compulsory, then propose that they be optional. Relevant disadvantages include distraction from core subjects, stress and expense. However, the response does not fully develop the comparison required by “outweigh”: the advantages are only briefly presented through historical scientists and unspecified modern examples, without explaining how these experiences benefit undergraduates. The claim that students can focus on only one thing is also supported by a vague reference to research rather than a clear explanation or relevant example. To strengthen the response, explain the benefits and disadvantages in comparable detail and show why one side is more significant. The position would also be clearer if the optional compromise were explicitly connected to your view that disadvantages predominate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs and a conclusion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the change in viewpoint, and the main ideas are generally grouped by side. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak: the discussion moves from students’ responsibilities to historical scientists without a clear link, and the second body paragraph does not explain how its examples support the argument. Some connections are mechanical or unclear, including “Meanwhile” and “They also see,” whose reference is uncertain. The conclusion repeats the call for freedom and reduced stress rather than synthesising the comparison. Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and make each paragraph develop one central point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “work placement,” “psychological state,” “expenses” and “balanced approach.” There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “additional responsibilities” and “historical scientists.” However, several expressions are imprecise or unnatural, which limits clarity: “take from the time of courses,” “put in mind,” and “get the biggest potential out of the student” do not express the intended ideas idiomatically. Repetition of “students,” “study” and “idea” also narrows the range. Aim for accurate academic collocations and more precise terms for benefits, costs and learning outcomes. The vocabulary is generally understandable, but these choices make parts of the argument less fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the extra stress this will lead” and a result structure with “thus driving their attention away.” However, complex constructions are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships difficult to follow. For example, “the disadvantages of this outweighs” has subject–verb disagreement, while “students whom they can do both jobs” uses an incorrect relative pronoun and an unclear structure. The sentence beginning “Nearly all of our historical scientists” also lacks a clear grammatical connection between its clauses. Review agreement, relative clauses and sentence boundaries, and simplify sentences when needed. More consistently accurate sentence patterns would make your reasoning easier to understand.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.