Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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)

having a part of university course or even a part time placement in abroad can serve as a turning point for almost of the students. i have no doubts that this addition in all universities can become a breakthrough in the field of education. it is backed by numerous facts that all young minds, at sime point, wants to break from the comfort zone and try to test their lucks at international levels. international educational trips being a compulsory part of the educational journey might be the only push they need to try something out of the box. this addition to university can definitely outweighs advantages for a ton of students. students being on their own and having to test their mental capabilities will bring out their hidden skills. we tend to gain immense confidence when we have the opportunity to test out skills at a broader level. the only downside of this can be the financial problem. some students can't afford extra monetary expenses apart from their tuition fees. being left behind from the fellows can sometimes take a toll on their mental health. universities need to plan this initiative with a great deal of attention to detail. they can give deserving students some discount so that everyone can participate in this adventure without the financial pressure. moreover, this extra course or placement will be more beneficial if it is in the last semester. this way, students will have a broader perspective of fields and their course.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe the benefits of overseas study or placements outweigh the drawbacks, and you address both personal development and financial barriers. The points about gaining confidence and discovering hidden abilities are relevant, while the affordability concern is a useful counterpoint. However, some ideas are asserted rather than explained—for example, the claim that students want to “test their lucks at international levels” does not show clearly how this experience improves their education or future prospects. The suggestion to place the experience in the final semester is also introduced without much justification. The response is two words below the required minimum, so ensure future answers meet the stated length and use the extra space to develop examples and reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable progression: it introduces your view, gives benefits, acknowledges a financial disadvantage, and proposes ways to address it. Linking expressions such as “moreover” and “this way” help connect some points. However, the ideas are presented as one continuous block rather than in clear paragraphs, which makes the argument harder to follow. Several transitions are also mechanical or unclear: “this addition” is repeated, and the connection between students’ confidence and the claim that the policy benefits “a ton of students” is not fully explained. Use separate paragraphs for your position, supporting benefits, and drawback with response, and make references such as “this” or “it” clearly identify the idea they refer to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “turning point,” “comfort zone,” “broader perspective,” and “financial pressure.” These expressions show an effort to communicate ideas beyond basic vocabulary. However, several choices are inaccurate or informal, which limits precision: “test their lucks” is not a natural expression here, “a ton of students” is too conversational for an academic essay, and “international educational trips” may suggest short excursions rather than a period of study or work. There are also spelling errors, including “sime,” and some awkward collocations such as “discount” for financial assistance. Aim for precise academic phrases and check spelling and word combinations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple statements and attempts at more complex structures, such as “some students can’t afford extra monetary expenses apart from their tuition fees” and “this way, students will have a broader perspective.” The main ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “almost of the students” has an incorrect quantifier, “all young minds … wants” has subject–verb disagreement, and “this addition … can definitely outweighs” combines a modal with an incorrect verb form. Capitalisation at the start of sentences is also inconsistent. Review agreement, modal verb patterns, articles, and sentence punctuation; more accurate control of these forms would make your argument clearer.

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

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