Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

These days, it is generally believed that all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.This can have both advantages and disadvantages. However, through my perspective,I find that there are more advantages that disadvantages.

In this essay, I will attempt to present some positive and a few negative aspects of the courses period of time spent studying aboard or doing a work placement.

To begin with, there are several merits of

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

You introduce the topic and state a position: “there are more advantages that disadvantages.” However, the response does not develop either side of the argument or explain why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The second paragraph promises “some positive and a few negative aspects,” but the only supporting paragraph stops at “there are several merits of,” so no reason or example is provided. As a result, the task is addressed only minimally and your position is not supported. The response is also 63 words, below the required 250 words; 18 words copied from the prompt were excluded from that count. To improve, explain specific benefits and drawbacks, support them with relevant examples, and reach a clear conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening paragraph gives your view, a second paragraph previews the discussion, and “To begin with” signals the start of a supporting point. These features provide some structure. However, the essay has no completed body paragraph or conclusion, so ideas do not progress into a full argument. The transition from the introduction to “In this essay” is also repetitive, as both sentences announce the essay’s purpose rather than advance the discussion. The final phrase, “there are several merits of,” is unfinished and leaves the reader without a complete idea. Develop each paragraph around one clear point, connect it to an explanation or example, and use a concluding paragraph to restate your judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “undergraduate courses,” “studying abroad,” “work placement,” and “advantages and disadvantages.” This shows an ability to introduce the subject, but the short response offers little evidence of range or precise word choice. Some expressions are inaccurate or awkward: “through my perspective” is not a natural way to introduce an opinion, and “courses period of time” does not clearly express the intended idea. “Studying aboard” is also a spelling error that changes the meaning of “abroad.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and use vocabulary to explain concrete benefits and drawbacks, such as gaining professional experience or adapting to a different culture.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes some correctly formed simple sentences, such as “This can have both advantages and disadvantages,” and a complex opening clause beginning “These days, it is generally believed that…”. This demonstrates a basic range of sentence forms. However, the sample is too short to show sustained control, and there are noticeable punctuation and sentence-boundary problems: there is no space after the full stop in “placement.This,” and the comma in “perspective,I” is also followed by no space. The final sentence fragment, “To begin with, there are several merits of,” is incomplete and has no main idea after “of.” Complete each sentence, check punctuation and spacing, and practise combining a clear claim with an explanation.

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

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