Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 5.0)

It is argued that all undergraduate university courses should include a period of styding abroad or a work placement. I believe this is beneficial for students because it offers many advantages and leads to a bright future.

The main advantage is practical work experience. At university, students just learn or get knowledge from theory in books. They do not know how to handle clients and how a company works. For instance, a BBA student working in a company learns to deal with several different clients. As a result, he is likely get job faster than other students after graduation.

The second advantage is studying abroad, where students have to live independently without their family in other countries. They have to shop on their own. They have to cook meals for themselves. They also have to take public transports to go to university if it is far from their accomodation and they have to work to earn goods for their needs. For instance a young student who is in his early 20s who travels from Pakistan to Europe to study has to live independently. This builds the confidence of a person wo can live on his own.

Admittedly, there are some disadvantages. Studying abroad can be expensive and work placements are sometimes unpaid, which is difficult for low-

In conclusion, for the bright future of our young generation, we have to admit that these methods are great way to make our young generation confident and by believing in themselves results in success of them

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear general view that placements and overseas study are beneficial, and you support this with relevant examples, such as a BBA student learning to deal with clients and a student living independently abroad. However, the response only partly addresses the comparison in the question: it does not clearly explain why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The disadvantage paragraph begins with cost and unpaid placements but ends unfinished at “which is difficult for low-”, so this side of the argument is not developed. The conclusion repeats the benefits rather than weighing both sides. To strengthen the response, complete the disadvantage discussion and explain why the benefits are more significant despite these costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two paragraphs about advantages, a brief disadvantage paragraph, and a conclusion. The examples generally follow the points they illustrate, and phrases such as “The main advantage” and “The second advantage” help signal the organisation. However, progression is limited: the disadvantage paragraph is cut off, and the conclusion does not bring the comparison together. Some linking is repetitive, particularly the repeated “They have to” sentences, while the final sentence is difficult to follow because several ideas are joined without clear relationships. Use clearer transitions between the benefits and drawbacks, and make each paragraph develop one complete point before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “practical work experience,” “clients,” “independently,” and “confidence.” However, the range is limited and some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, which can make the reader pause. For example, “work to earn goods for their needs” does not clearly express the idea of earning money to pay for necessities, and “bright future” is repeated without specifying what this means. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “styding,” “accomodation,” and “wo.” Aim for more precise academic collocations and check spelling carefully. Replacing repeated general phrases with specific terms would make your argument clearer and more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer structures, including “because it offers many advantages” and “where students have to live independently,” but most sentences rely on simple patterns, and errors are frequent enough to affect clarity. Examples include the missing infinitive marker in “he is likely get job faster,” the incomplete construction “by believing in themselves results in success,” and the unfinished clause “which is difficult for low-”. There are also problems with articles and plurals, as in “a great way” and “public transports,” and punctuation is missing after “For instance.” Practise building accurate complex sentences and check that each sentence has a complete subject and verb before adding further ideas.

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