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)

Nowadays, people argue that undergraduate courses in all universities focus on adding a particular period of time where students spent studying abroad or enroll in practical internship. This essay will examine both perspectives, advantages and disadvantages before arguing that its disadvantages outweigh its benefits.

On the one hand, the idea of mandate a period of study abroad or a professional work placement will increase student confidence of learning and they willl gain exposure from other students as well. Students will be provided with different real workplace skills from the global perspective which can increase the chances of employment in the future. Spending time on a workplace in foreign country builds self confidence, boost communication skills and adaptability.

On the other hand, disadvantages outweigh its advantages. The biggest drawback of spending time on studying in another country is financial burden on parents and on students as well. For instance, students belong from middle class cannot affoard the expenses to go in foreign country it will definately impact negative on their degree. In this way, this course has more drawbacks ratherthen benefits. Adding placement or studying abroad terms can extend the total length of degree and it will make hard for students to focus on core academic subjects.

In conclusion, while international study programs and internships offer valuable real-world experience. I believe the dissadvantages outweigh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You present a clear overall view that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, and you address both sides with relevant points: international experience may improve confidence and employability, while costs and a longer degree are drawbacks. However, the discussion is only partially developed. The employment benefit is asserted rather than illustrated, and the financial point would be stronger with a fuller explanation of how costs affect students’ choices or progress. The conclusion is incomplete: “I believe the disadvantages outweigh” does not finish the position or summarise the reasoning. The response also contains 223 words, below the required 250, so there is limited space to develop the ideas and fully answer the task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and an attempted conclusion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” help signal the contrast, and the main position is stated early. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the sentence beginning “For instance” runs into “it will definitely impact negative on their degree” without a clear grammatical or logical connection. The conclusion is cut off, so the essay does not reach a complete ending. Some linking phrases, such as “In this way,” are used mechanically and do not clearly show how the preceding point leads to the conclusion. Use clearer sentence boundaries and develop each paragraph through a point, explanation, and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “professional work placement,” “financial burden,” “adaptability,” and “core academic subjects,” which allows the reader to understand the main ideas. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “global perspective.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision: “students belong from middle class,” “impact negative,” “affoard,” “definately,” and “dissadvantages.” “Confidence of learning” is also an unclear expression for the intended meaning. Aim for accurate, natural combinations such as “students from middle-income families” and “have a negative impact.” Proofreading spelling and choosing precise phrases would make your argument easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including “while …” and clauses explaining possible effects, but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in verb forms and agreement: “students spent studying” should use a form such as “spend studying,” and “builds self confidence, boost communication skills” needs parallel verb agreement. Other examples include “the idea of mandate” and “it will make hard for students,” where the grammatical patterns are incomplete or incorrect. The final sentence is also unfinished, and the conclusion’s opening “while” clause is left without a complete main clause. These problems sometimes make relationships between ideas difficult to interpret. Practise complete sentence patterns, subject–verb agreement, and parallel structures, then check each sentence for a finished clause.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.