Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

The growing influence of the inclusion of study abroad or doing a work placement for a bachelors degree has sparked various debates. This issue is particularly noteworthy because of its influence on students lives, shaping outcomes for both individuals and universities. In this essay, I will discuss the advantages associated with the work placement and foreign study exposure which clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

On of the key benefits associated with the work placement is getting the exposure of the corporate world. This is evident from the fact that the student learn the level of skills required for the similar role jobs. What all are the tools companies uses to incorporate the various data or information. Research and practical evidence frequently indicates that work placement can help them learn their strength and weakness. Additionally, students gets the chance to learn how to implement the theoratical information of the bachelours degree into the real life work environment. Theyget the chance to explore various work culture as well.

However, alongside these benefits, there are certain drawbacks in relation to work placement or study abroad. One substantial drawback is no work experience. Without the work experiencet becomes difficult for the student to crack the job interviews. Furthemore, companies prefer hiring the experienced candidates. Thus, it is essential to implement appropriate strategies to implement this practice. Additionally, studyinig abroad is very expensive as it included the huge course fee along with the travel and living expenses.

In conclusion, studying abroad or work placement have both benefits and limitations. Although, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on the work placement in order to achieve sustainable and beneficial out comes for individuals and universities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you discuss both work placements and studying abroad. The corporate exposure, applying degree knowledge in a workplace, and the cost of overseas study are relevant points. However, the response only partly develops the comparison: the disadvantages paragraph introduces “no work experience” as a drawback of placements, but does not explain why a required placement would create this problem. The claim that companies prefer experienced candidates also needs a clearer link to the proposed policy. Examples and explanation are limited, and the conclusion shifts towards recommending work placements rather than addressing both options equally. Develop each main point with a specific example and explain directly how its impact supports your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Additionally,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. Overall, the ideas are arranged coherently, but progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. For example, the move from “no work experience” to companies preferring experienced candidates does not explain how this relates to a compulsory placement. The sentence fragments “What all are the tools companies uses…” and “Research and practical evidence frequently indicates…” also interrupt the flow. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each supporting detail explicitly to the paragraph’s main claim; vary transitions rather than relying on a repeated list-like sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “corporate world,” “work placement,” “living expenses,” and “real life work environment.” These choices make the subject clear, but the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the reader work to understand the intended meaning. For instance, “getting the exposure of the corporate world” and “crack the job interviews” are not natural academic collocations. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as “theoratical,” “bachelours,” and “Furthemore.” Aim for precise, conventional academic phrasing and check spelling carefully. Replacing vague expressions such as “various data or information” with specific terms would also make the argument more exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex forms, including the contrast introduced by “Although” and the conditional structure “Without the work experience it becomes difficult…”. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to follow. Examples include “the student learn,” “students gets,” and “companies uses,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect. The opening phrase “On of the key benefits” is also structurally faulty, while “Although, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages” is an incomplete dependent clause. Some sentences, such as “What all are the tools companies uses…” are not formed as complete, clear statements. Practise accurate sentence patterns and agreement, and proofread each sentence for a complete subject and verb.

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