Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Should all university undergraduate courses include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. I agree that all undergraduate courses should have a time period where students study abroad because it can help students with a lot of things in their life.

I think all universities should introduce a period of time spent studying abroad in their undergraduate courses. Its a great way for students to have global exposure and learn about the world and how everything works in a different environment, especially if students are planning to study abroad after their course, as it'll give them an idea if study abroad is really for them or not. Some students might be interested in working abroad after their studies so this experience can help them make the right choices.

There are some downsides to this idea as doing degrees from such universities can make the tuition really expensive. Some students might not get permission from their family to study abroad, however, despite all these issues, there are far more advantages for students through this idea than disadvantages.

In conclusion, studying abroad is a really good way of becoming independent from a young age. People get great experiences which further help them in their future by getting good jobs. Having a degree from abroad increases its value. Making friends from different backgrounds makes a person excel at communication skills. Especially if a student is pursuing a degree like international relations or similar, this time period can open their mind and broaden their thinking.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear overall view that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and you mention relevant advantages such as global exposure, independence, communication skills and career choices. You also acknowledge costs and family permission as disadvantages. However, the discussion is only partial: the disadvantages are briefly listed rather than explained, and several benefits are asserted without a specific example or fuller explanation. The prompt includes either studying abroad or a work placement, but your response focuses almost entirely on studying abroad. The response is 243 words, below the 250-word minimum; the 13 words copied from the prompt are not counted. Develop both options and support your main points with a concrete example to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, a paragraph on drawbacks and a conclusion. Ideas generally follow a sensible order, and linking expressions such as “however” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the argument. Some connections are less smooth, though. The opening repeats the question before stating your view, and the conclusion introduces several new benefits rather than drawing together the points already discussed. The sentence beginning “Some students might not get permission…” also joins contrasting ideas awkwardly with “however, despite.” To improve progression, avoid repeating the introduction, use clearer transitions between contrasting points, and reserve the conclusion for a concise summary of your established argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for communicating the main ideas, with relevant expressions such as “global exposure,” “different backgrounds,” and “broaden their thinking.” You also use some topic-related language about tuition, international relations and future employment. However, the range is limited by repeated general words and phrases, including “students,” “really good,” “great experiences” and “help.” A few choices are imprecise or awkward, such as “degrees from such universities” when discussing cost and “increases its value” for a degree. Aim for more precise academic collocations and vary repeated wording. For example, describe the financial drawback as “increase the overall cost of a degree” and explain that international experience may “enhance graduates’ employability.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple sentences and longer structures, including a conditional clause in “especially if students are planning to study abroad after their course” and a concession in “despite all these issues.” The main ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical and punctuation errors reduce accuracy. The opening is phrased as a question but ends with a full stop, and “Its a great way” needs the possessive form “It’s.” The sentence “Some students might not get permission from their family, however, despite all these issues…” combines two contrasting linkers and needs restructuring. There are also awkward sentence fragments, such as “Especially if a student is pursuing…” and “Making friends…” Use complete sentences, check apostrophes and punctuation, and practise joining clauses with one clear linking structure.

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