Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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)

Many people prefer to spend a period of their academic years studying abroad or doing work placements which grants them worthy experiences in the workforce field and in their lives in general.

are the advantages of this experiences outweigh the disadvantages?

In my opinion, yes i believe the advantages outweigh heavily the disadvantages for many reasons, some of these reasons are :

any experience has a weight in the person's life and outweighs the experience's disadvantages because it gives him skills when encountering a similar expereince.

second, that same experience can be looked back upon as a beautiful memory in the person's life.

And that for a person to experience something new he needs to get out of their comfort zone and actually have a tough time with the new tasks he encounters during that experience.

I give an example of when i traveled to the czech republic alone, it was hard in all what i experienced there at first, and how the language barrier made communication impossible. but now i look back at that time as one of the most beautiful times of my life, and when i encounter a similar situation i will use what i learnt from that experience to deal with it.

In conclusion, the advantages of going to study abroad or doing a work placement outweight heavily the disadvantages and this goes for any experience in my opinion, that is why i encourage undergraduate courses to include a period of time to be spent studying abroad or doing work placement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You give a clear answer to the question: “the advantages outweigh heavily the disadvantages,” and your conclusion supports including overseas study or work placements in undergraduate courses. The personal example of travelling alone to the Czech Republic is relevant and helps show how a challenging experience can build confidence and provide lasting value. However, the discussion focuses mainly on personal growth and memories, while the specific benefits of studying abroad or completing a work placement—such as academic learning, career skills, or professional contacts—are not explored. The disadvantages are also acknowledged only generally, rather than explained and weighed against the benefits. Develop these points with concrete reasons and examples to make the argument more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting reasons and an example, and a conclusion. The Czech Republic anecdote also gives the reader a clear illustration of your point. However, progression within the main paragraph is limited: the ideas about gaining skills, remembering the experience, and leaving one’s comfort zone are listed rather than clearly connected or developed. Linking expressions such as “second” and “And that” are either mechanical or unclear, and the opening question interrupts the flow. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for the main benefits and the disadvantages, and connect each claim to its explanation or example. Clearer referencing and transitions would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “language barrier,” “comfort zone,” “work placements,” and “similar situation.” These phrases help communicate your experience and the idea of learning from challenges. However, the range is limited and several expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as “workforce field,” “has a weight in the person's life,” and “beautiful memory.” Repetition of “experience” also makes the argument less varied. Spelling errors such as “expereince” and “outweight” are noticeable, while informal or inconsistent capitalisation reduces polish. Aim for more precise academic collocations and vary key terms—for example, refer to “professional skills,” “personal development,” or “career experience” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences, including the sentence describing how the language barrier affected communication and how you now view the trip. However, the range of structures is limited, and errors in sentence formation and punctuation sometimes make the meaning harder to follow. For example, “are the advantages of this experiences outweigh the disadvantages?” has incorrect question structure and agreement, while “In my opinion, yes i believe” combines two forms of stating a view and uses incorrect capitalisation. The sentence beginning “And that for a person…” is also incomplete. Practise forming direct questions, complete sentences, and complex clauses with clear subjects and verbs. More accurate punctuation and capital letters would improve readability.

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