Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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 recent years, the argue that all university undergraduate courses should include a certain time to spent studying abroad or doing a work replacement. In my opinion, the universities should include some time to spent in abroad for study or giving the opportunity to students to work as an internee. While this development has several advantages, it also has some disadvantages. This essay will discuss both the benefits and drawbacks.

One major advantage of the universities added to doing a work replacement is that the students get the practical experience of what they studied. This means that they can learn the practical skills of that selective course. For example, the students are getting very familiar time by time to what they are going to do in the future. Another benefit is the students may get paid by the company or any other place they are working at.

However, there are also some disadvantages of sending students to abroad for spent some time in study in another country. One major drawback is that the students are not proper independent while studying especially male students they do not know how to clean room, make food and any other household activity. As a result, they cannot focus on their studies and always thinking for the house and food. Another drawback is that the cost of study in another country is more than study in own country. This can lead to more study expense than normal which might stops the students to go abroad for study.

In conclusion, the universities initiative of giving the opportunity to students for doing a work replacement has several advantages like practical skills, but its disadvantages cannot be ignored like paying more cost to study. But it is totally sure that advantages cannot outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both the benefits and drawbacks and give a clear overall view in the conclusion: you believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. Practical experience and possible pay are relevant benefits, while independence and expense are relevant concerns. However, the position is not fully consistent: the introduction appears to support including placements, but the conclusion says the advantages do not outweigh the disadvantages. The discussion also focuses mainly on work placements in the benefits paragraph and overseas study in the drawbacks paragraph, rather than evaluating both options in a balanced way. Some points need fuller explanation—for instance, explain how a placement improves future employment prospects, or why household responsibilities prevent students from studying effectively. Clarifying your position from the introduction onward and developing the comparison would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “One major advantage,” “However,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the point about students being “familiar time by time” does not clearly explain the link between practical experience and future work. Some references are also vague, such as “this development” and “another drawback,” and the conclusion repeats the main points without resolving the contrast between the introduction and final position. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each example explicitly to the claim it supports; vary linking expressions so the organisation feels less formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “practical experience,” “practical skills,” “independent,” and “study expense,” so the main ideas are generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices or collocations make meaning less clear. For example, “work replacement” is used where “work placement” is intended, and “internee” does not naturally describe a student on a placement. Phrases such as “familiar time by time” and “the universities initiative” are also unclear or unnatural. Build a more precise set of expressions for placements, overseas study, costs, and career benefits, and check that each word fits its context. This would make your argument easier to understand and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “While,” “As a result,” and “which.” This gives the response some structural variety, and the overall meaning can usually be followed. However, errors occur frequently in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “the argue” lacks a suitable subject and verb, “the universities added” uses an incorrect verb form, and “which might stops” has faulty agreement. The sentence beginning “One major drawback is that the students are not proper independent” also has problems with the complement and the following clause. Practise accurate basic sentence patterns first, then build longer sentences while checking subject–verb agreement and verb forms.

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