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 the modern world, education plays a critical role in influencing the career and personal growth of a student. After highschool, the next level of education includes an undergraduate degree, followed by a masin colleges and universities. Proponents across the world argue that all university undergraduatecourses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. From my perspective, I firmly believe in this mechanism as the advantages outweighs the disadvantages.

First and foremost, working abroad as a part of undergraduate studies, offer several potential benefits. It makes the student familiar with work environment and teaches them how to effiecently manage work load with studies. Further, doing a work placement in a foregin country as a part of undergraduate curricula enhances communication skills and makes a student productive. For instance, working or studying abroad pushes a student out of their comfort zone, making them more resilent and emotionally strong, as compared to students who remain in their comfort zones.

Additionally, working and studying abroad broadens the horizon of student in multiple ways. It provides them with cultural exposure, opens their opportunities to greater career options. It also boosts their self esteem and confidence, as compared to students who stick to their regular academic curricula.

In conclusion, I firmly agree that university undergraduate courses should inlcude a period of time studying abroad or doing a work placement for a long span of time. This deeply fosters emotional growth, courage and ability to adapt in complicate environments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear position in favour of including overseas study or work placements, and your points about workplace familiarity, communication skills, cultural exposure and confidence are relevant. However, the response addresses the comparison only partially: it explains advantages but does not identify or weigh any disadvantages, despite the question asking whether the benefits outweigh them. Several claims, such as “opens their opportunities to greater career options,” are asserted rather than supported with a specific example or explanation. The conclusion restates your view but does not resolve this comparison in detail. The response is 235 words, so it is 15 words below the required minimum; the 14 words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop both sides and add a concrete example to fully address the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs focused on benefits, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “First and foremost,” “Additionally,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main stages. However, the progression is somewhat repetitive because both body paragraphs list advantages without developing distinct, connected lines of reasoning. Some links between claims are abrupt—for example, the move from cultural exposure to career options and then self-esteem—and “as compared to students” is repeated without clarifying the comparison. To strengthen organisation, give each paragraph a clear central point, explain how each benefit follows, and include a paragraph or balanced discussion of possible disadvantages before reaching your conclusion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “undergraduate studies,” “work placement,” “cultural exposure,” “resilient,” and “adapt.” These choices communicate the general argument, and some less common terms show an attempt to express ideas precisely. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “highschool,” “effiecently,” “foregin,” “resilent,” and “inlcude.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, such as “opens their opportunities to greater career options” and “for a long span of time.” These issues make parts of the response less fluent, even though the main meaning remains understandable. Proofread spelling and learn common academic collocations; choose wording that states the intended benefit directly and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the clause “working or studying abroad pushes a student out of their comfort zone, making them more resilient.” Most ideas remain understandable, but errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction recur. For example, “the advantages outweighs” should use a plural verb, while “working abroad … offer” also needs agreement with its subject. Phrases such as “broadens the horizon of student” need an article or plural form, and “in complicate environments” has an incorrect adjective form. The opening sentence about education after high school is also difficult to follow structurally. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and check each sentence for a complete, clearly connected structure.

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