Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-14

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)

In this modern era of the studies, it is important to understand that before getting a degree, an undergraduate student must have an exposure of his specific studying coursework. This can be achievable by placing in a working field or by spending some time in abroad to know about the cross culture and field responsibilities.

Studying abroad comes with great and exciting benefits. Firstly, a student who went for studies in another country will get to know about the work held in the field because in every place, working and study enviornment differs from own country. This natural excitement of getting know about the differences will create the interest in the studies naturally, because it is scientifically proven that more number of people are more interested in maintaining cross culture rather than having the same enviornment.

Recently, in Pakistan there are many universities which made the work placements mandatory before getting the final degree. In a famous university of multan namely Bahauddin Zakaria Univeristy passed a rule for their students that it is mandatory and will be considered as an important part of the Final year project to work in your relevant fields. They reffered to the internship that to complete a particular degree students should be having an experience letter of any relevant organization of their coursework.

It is clear that, by having an experience of working enviornment and study some credit hours in abroad will help a student to polish the skills. It will broaden the mind and make the student ready to work in every enviornment and remain interested in working life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response is relevant to the topic and gives a generally positive view of overseas study and work placements, with a local university example. However, it does not directly answer the central question of whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: disadvantages are not discussed, and the comparative position is only implied in the concluding claim that these experiences help students. The benefits are also asserted more than explained. For example, the claim that students become more interested through exposure to another culture needs a clearer explanation or a specific illustration. The placement example adds relevant detail, but it describes a requirement rather than showing its effects on students. State your position explicitly and develop both sides before reaching a reasoned comparison.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Recently” help signal movement between points, and the final paragraph returns to the benefits for students. However, progression is not consistently clear. The second paragraph shifts from studying abroad to work in a field without explaining how these experiences relate, while the university example is presented as a separate fact rather than being linked to a developed argument. Some connections are also mechanical, such as repeated use of “because” and “It is clear that.” Use each paragraph to develop one main point, connect the example explicitly to that point, and organise the discussion around advantages and disadvantages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some topic-related vocabulary, including “work placements,” “cross culture,” “internship,” “relevant fields” and “experience letter,” so the reader can identify the subject and intended benefits. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural or imprecise, which sometimes makes the meaning harder to follow. For instance, “an exposure of his specific studying coursework” and “work held in the field” do not express the intended ideas clearly; “study environment” and “working environment” are also repeated. Spelling errors such as “enviornment,” “Univeristy” and “reffered” further reduce accuracy. Build a more precise vocabulary for academic and professional experience, and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence forms, including a relative clause in “a student who went for studies in another country” and a conditional structure in “by having an experience … will help a student.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences. For example, “This can be achievable by placing in a working field” has an unclear grammatical construction, and “because it is scientifically proven that more number of people are more interested” contains awkward clause structure and comparison. Articles, prepositions and agreement also need attention, as in “some time in abroad” and “a student … will get to know.” Practise building accurate complex sentences and check that each clause has a clear subject and verb.

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