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)

I agree with the statement that all university undergraduate courses should spent a period of time in studing abroad or may do some work. I think the advantages of this would be more than disadvantages. However it may have some disadvantages but it will never outweigh the disadvantages.

If student only rely on course study which the university is offering, then their ideas will be limited and their development chances will be low. So, for the benefits of students, university should give opportunities to the student to go abroad for one or two semester.

Explore the diversity and study the culture of the other countries. Moreover, for students there should be workplace where they can implement their knowledge which they gain during their graduation. Student never seek knowledge only from reading books and attending knowledge. The educational institutions should provide environment for them where they practically see and also do work on their own. For this, the only way is that to give them opportunities of studing with diversity and it is only possible when they spent a period of time abroad and do work there.

For example, when I was in the university one of my friend went to turkey as an exchange student for one semester and this programe was offered by our university. When she came back I noticed a lot of positive changes in her like she was more confident and had improved her skills related to our subject. As compare to us, she better knew how to socialized and even how to made decisions for herself. It is only because of the opportuinity which she gained and we ignored it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you believe the benefits of overseas study or work placements outweigh the drawbacks. You give relevant reasons, including exposure to other cultures, practical application of knowledge, and personal development, and the example of your friend’s exchange supports your view. However, the disadvantages are only briefly acknowledged in the opening and are not explained, so this part of the question is addressed less fully. Some claims also need more development: for instance, explain more specifically how a placement improves students’ academic or career prospects, rather than saying only that their skills improved. A fuller comparison of benefits and possible costs or disruption would make the argument more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction states your view, the middle paragraphs explain benefits, and the final paragraph gives a personal example. Ideas generally follow a sensible order, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “For example” help signal relationships. However, the progression is sometimes repetitive: the need for opportunities abroad and practical experience is restated several times without adding a distinct point. Some connections are also unclear, particularly “However it may have some disadvantages but it will never outweigh the disadvantages,” which repeats the same term and obscures your intended comparison. Use clearer paragraph focus and refer back to ideas precisely so the reader can follow how each reason supports your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “diversity,” “exchange student,” “confident,” and “decisions,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems make the writing less natural. For example, “studing” and “opportuinity” are misspelled, while “attending knowledge” does not express the intended idea clearly. Phrases such as “workplace where they can implement their knowledge” and “positive changes” are understandable but broad or awkward. Aim to use more precise academic expressions and check spelling and collocations; this would help you explain the benefits with greater clarity and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “If student only rely on course study…” and a relative clause in “the knowledge which they gain.” The main argument remains understandable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur across the response. Examples include “courses should spent” instead of a correctly formed passive or infinitive, “one of my friend went,” and “how to made decisions.” The opening also contains a confusing contrast structure: “However it may have some disadvantages but…” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and verb patterns, and revise sentences for one clear grammatical relationship at a time. More reliable control would make your ideas easier to read.

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