Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-23

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)

It is believed that all universities should add a period of time in undergraduate courses in which students can spent time studying abroad or doing a work placement. In this essay I will discuss both advantages and disadvantages but before I argue I would say advantages outweigh more than disadvantages.

All universities should add a period of time in which student could have a chance to studying abroad because most of the students have a dream to go to foreign countries for their studies but this dream could not be fulfill due to several reasons. One of the reasons is that most students can not afford the cost for studying abroad. Moreover, for some students their parents would not allow them to go abroad. So, if the universities include this time period in their courses and would promote their students for international scholarships then it would be a great chance for them. Furthermore, if this would be added in their courses then it becomes compulsory for their parents to allow their children for studying abroad.

In addition, this time also provides various work opportunities to students and it is also a great way to gain experience because at that time they have enough free time to do work in any company and to gain experience which help them in their future carriers.

There are also some disadvantages of this because there are many students who would not want to study or work in this time rather than they would involve themselves in other activities which is not a good way to spend this time. Moreover, they can also become lazy but if the universities show some strictness they could easily tackle this situation.

To conclude, Although it is a good thing to include this time period because of several advantages, there are also some disadvantages which could easily be tackle by some strategies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you address both sides of the question. The points about access to international study, scholarships, work experience and students who may not use the period productively are relevant. However, the main benefits are not developed evenly: the work-placement point is brief, and the claim that a university requirement would make parents allow students to go abroad is asserted rather than explained. The disadvantages are also treated mainly as students becoming lazy, without considering practical concerns such as cost, disruption to study or unequal access. To strengthen the response, explain how each benefit or drawback affects students and support the comparison with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. The progression from study abroad to work experience is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “Moreover,” “Furthermore” and “To conclude” help show the direction of the argument. However, some linking is mechanical, with several sentences beginning “Moreover” or “Furthermore,” and the relationship between ideas is not always precise. For example, the claim about parents being compelled to allow overseas study does not clearly follow from universities promoting scholarships. The conclusion repeats the general position but does not summarise the main reasons. Use fewer formulaic connectors and make the logical links between claims explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the topic, including relevant phrases such as “international scholarships,” “work opportunities” and “gain experience.” There is some attempt to express ideas beyond basic statements, but the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural. Examples include “this dream could not be fulfill,” “future carriers” and “show some strictness”; these reduce precision, even though the overall meaning is usually recoverable. Repeated use of “time,” “students” and “advantages” also makes the writing less flexible. Build a more precise set of phrases for education and employment, and check spelling and collocations so that your vocabulary conveys the intended meaning naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “if the universities include this time period … then it would be a great chance” and a concession in the conclusion. Meaning is generally understandable, but some errors occur in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction. For example, “students can spent” should use the base form after “can,” while “a chance to studying” needs an infinitive pattern. In “experience which help them,” the verb does not agree with its subject, and “could easily be tackle” has an incorrect passive form. The opening and conclusion also contain punctuation and capitalisation issues. Practise accurate verb patterns and passive constructions, then proofread each sentence for agreement and punctuation.

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