Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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)

Individuals believe university undergraduate courses should add a period of time spent studing abroad or work placement.In the coming paragraphs i believe advantages outweights the disadvantages.

Plenty of student seek foreign education many believe education in certain nations is better than their home country but due to financial conditions some students are unable to fulfill their future study plans,They choose to study in their home country as undergraduate students,But universities can help students join foreign teaching usually undergraduate courses span over 3-4 year on average depending on major in their last semester universitites can provide opportunity to students while providing addition option to study abroad last semester with international students this scheme can benefit the student by making them more independent and develop skills that employers seek.

Universities should also include work placement for students.While some students prefer to just study their courses but many others students seek practical knowledge undergraduate students always have difficulty in finding work because employers usually seek full time workers which students cannot provide due to their study,But universities can provide work placements in their campus so students can learn to attend customers or can find connections which can benefit them in long term,As well major universities can collaborate with each other to provide enough work placements In long term styding abroad or work placements can benefit student who are willing to study in foreign international level or seeking working to enhance study.

Overall, universities should introude a policy so students who desire to study abroad can fulfill as it can benefit them in long term and they can learn about international markets,Same for students who seek works but unable to find university can provide them work so they can enhance their skills..

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both options in the prompt—studying abroad and work placements—and your position is that their advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Relevant benefits include greater independence, developing skills employers value, and gaining practical experience or professional connections. However, the comparison is not fully established: disadvantages are barely discussed, and the conclusion mainly repeats the benefits rather than weighing them against costs or disruption. Some points also need clearer explanation, such as how a final-semester placement would work for students in different majors. Develop each main benefit with a specific example and briefly acknowledge a drawback before explaining why the benefits are greater.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion, and the paragraphs broadly separate international study from work experience. This gives the reader some overall organisation. However, progression within the paragraphs is difficult to follow because several ideas are joined into very long sentences, often with commas or capitalised “But” rather than clear sentence boundaries. For example, the first body paragraph moves from students’ finances to course duration and then to a final-semester scheme without clearly signalling the links. Connectors such as “Overall” and “As well” are attempted, but some transitions are awkward or repetitive. Use shorter sentences and organise each paragraph around one main point followed by its explanation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “work placements,” “practical knowledge,” “independent,” and “international markets.” These choices show that you can communicate the main subject matter. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-form and collocation errors make parts less clear, such as “studing,” “outweights,” “introude,” and “seek working.” Phrases such as “foreign teaching” and “attend customers” are also not natural in this context. Aim to learn vocabulary in accurate word partnerships and check spelling carefully. More precise expressions for employment, study opportunities and professional development would help you explain your ideas with less repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to express connected and complex ideas, including reasons and results, but sentence control is inconsistent. Many sentences run together, as in “They choose to study in their home country as undergraduate students,But universities can help students join foreign teaching,” where punctuation and clause boundaries are unclear. There are also recurring errors in agreement and verb forms, for example “Plenty of student seek” and “advantages outweights,” as well as missing or inconsistent articles and capitalisation. These errors sometimes make the reader work to identify the intended meaning. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them using conjunctions and relative clauses, with full stops and commas placed carefully.

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