Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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)

There is a common belief that the universities should include to get an experience of their education in foreign or give them work experiences in their specified courses so it could help the learnersnin their future. In my opinion, i believe that it plays a crucial role in developing their personalities and it also helps in boosting your career.

On the one hand, study abroad programs can help you in several ways, as they get many valuable lessons from them. As in universities or schools students mostly get knowledged about theoretical subjects, when they have to do it in the real worlds most of them get failed as they lack experience. While this issue can be easily solved by this as they mainly focuses on your crucial skills such as building self confidence, improving your communication skills and getting different experiences.Moreover, it helps a learner in problem solving, facing the financial pressure and managing the businesses.It will make you a strong independant as well, as you have to do your expenses at your own.

On the other hand, it may put pressure to some who are financially weak, as they cannot afford such expensive tours. Working or studing abroad requires a large amount. It can also create a sense of jealousy among who cannnot afford this. Therefore, it may leads to stress as well as many learners are going far from their families for the first and not having any friends or family their may impact their mental heath.

All in all it can be concluded that athough it have many drawbacks, their advantages clearly outweigh them. By building your career at such young age will help you in you future and it will not put sudden on you after graduating.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both sides of the question and give a clear view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, stated in the introduction and conclusion. Relevant benefits include developing confidence, communication and problem-solving skills, while the opposing paragraph recognises financial pressure and separation from family. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, the claim that placements help learners manage businesses is not illustrated, and the conclusion’s point about avoiding pressure after graduation is not clearly connected to the argument. Develop fewer ideas with a specific example and explain more directly how the benefits apply to both studying abroad and work placements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs signposted by “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a concluding position. This makes the line of argument easy to follow. The progression within paragraphs is generally understandable, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Therefore” help connect points. To make the organisation more consistently effective, clarify references such as “this” in “this issue can be easily solved by this,” and avoid abrupt shifts between ideas—for instance, from financial pressure to jealousy and then mental health. More explicit links between each example and the main claim would strengthen progression beyond the current clear but sometimes mechanical connections.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “theoretical subjects,” “communication skills,” “financial pressure,” and “mental health.” These choices help convey the main ideas, but the range is limited and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, sometimes making the meaning less precise. Examples include “get knowledged,” “in the real worlds,” “do your expenses,” and “a strong independant.” Spelling errors such as “studing,” “cannnot,” and “athough” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural collocations and precise terms, and check spelling carefully. Replacing repeated general wording such as “help” and “experiences” with specific academic or workplace vocabulary would make the argument clearer and more flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “as,” “while,” and “although,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in sentence construction and grammatical control occur across the response. For example, “There is a common belief that the universities should include to get an experience” has an incomplete and awkward structure, while “it may leads to stress” has incorrect subject–verb agreement. Other examples include “students mostly get knowledged … when they have to do it” and “their may impact their mental heath,” where clause structure and agreement are unclear. Work on forming complete clauses, matching verbs to subjects, and using articles and pronouns consistently. Proofreading sentence by sentence will help reduce errors that sometimes interrupt understanding.

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