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)

Univeristy Students in Pakistan are majorly focusing on rote memorization, and do not want to push there limits. The practical life is vice versa of it, engaging in practical work, observing how the world works on the same milestone can change minds, increases ones knowledge also doing something practically, one would never forget that concept in his/her life after performing some work with there own hands.

The problem initiates by the system which is not working on diversification of the faculty and they would simply prefer the person who graduated from the same university and appointed as a lecturer or on a post as per his qualification, coming from the same background and same mindset. The diversification in the faculty can lead to the actual change of environment, different leadership mindsets can set trends.

I personally have experienced, changing the environment can cahnge what you think, what you speak, and last but not the least what you are. This is the change point of my life and it has been to thousand others.

The advantages of this definitely outweigh the disadvantages, and here i see no disadvantage, as there was a old saying that you have to leave your comfort zone to outperform. We have multiple examples in this living world for this like Elon musk etc who were born and brought in another country, then migrated to other countries and proved thereselves.

The conclusion is that whoever pushes their limits and leave there comfort places have outperformed not in there viscinity but have proven to the world that when there is a will, there is a way.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you connect practical experience with learning and personal development. The examples of rote learning in Pakistan and your own experience are relevant starting points. However, the response only partially addresses the specific proposal: it discusses changing environments and faculty diversity more than requiring every undergraduate to study abroad or complete a work placement. The disadvantages are dismissed with “here I see no disadvantage,” rather than considered, and the Elon Musk example is asserted without explaining how it supports the proposed university requirement. Develop a few directly relevant benefits and acknowledge a realistic drawback, such as cost or unequal access, before explaining why the benefits remain greater.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a recognisable paragraph structure, moving from the education system to personal experience, your position, and a conclusion. The final paragraph also restates your central view. However, progression between ideas is not consistently clear: the discussion of faculty recruitment shifts away from the question of student placements, and the personal-experience paragraph does not explain what happened or how it supports the argument. Linking phrases such as “The problem initiates” and “The conclusion is” are either awkward or formulaic, while several long sentences combine multiple points without clear relationships. Organise the essay around distinct reasons for the benefits, then address a disadvantage and respond to it. Clearer topic sentences and more precise referencing would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt some topic-related and less common expressions, including “rote memorization,” “diversification,” “comfort zone,” and “outperform.” These show an effort to discuss education and personal development beyond very basic vocabulary. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or unnatural, as in “practical life is vice versa of it,” “change point of my life,” and “proven thereselves.” Spelling errors such as “Univeristy,” “cahnge,” and “viscinity” also reduce accuracy and can distract the reader. Some phrases are vague, particularly “same milestone” and “multiple examples in this living world.” Aim for precise language tied to the task, such as placements, international study, employability, and cultural awareness, and check spelling and common word combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences with clauses, for example, “The advantages of this definitely outweigh the disadvantages” and the opening sentence about practical work. However, the range is limited, and complex sentences are often faulty or difficult to follow. In the opening, “engaging in practical work … can change minds, increases ones knowledge” mixes a participial phrase with verbs that do not agree in form. Other examples include “there was a old saying,” “whoever pushes their limits and leave,” and “have proven … when there is a will,” where article use, agreement, or sentence construction needs attention. Punctuation is also weak in several long sentences. Practise building clear sentences with one main idea, then check subject–verb agreement, articles, and consistent verb forms.

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