Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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)

Now a days every university have a great number of undergraduate students studying there. All these students are quite important for their country's future as they are the real assest of their country. Therefore I think that every university should provide a free period of time during their course timetable in which they get time to research on studying abroad or do some work placement. Their career counseling is also too much important along with the free period so that they could provide some kind of benefits towards their own nation.

I believe that every university's undergraduate courses should provide some kind of real life knowledge to their students. But personally I believe that this would be necessary for every student to have a free period in their undergraduate course so that they would get some practical knowledge.

Moreover, I think that doing a work placement would be more beneficial stuff to do in that very free period they got from their university. Working on the work placement would eventually give more benefit rather than studying abroad. The advantages of this kind of activities in the university are that students will get a chance to explore some real options for themselves and they will ultimately make a good network with those who are really eager to do something productive in their life.

In conclusion, I would say there are more advantages of having a free period in which students spent their time on the research for studying abroad or doing a work placement rather than spending this time somewhere else in useless activites which will not provide anything to them instead of wasting their important time. There are actually no disadvantages of having a free period in thier undergraduate course.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear general preference for including practical experience, especially a work placement, and you mention possible benefits such as gaining practical knowledge and building a professional network. However, the response only partially addresses the question of whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The opening shifts towards universities providing a “free period” and career counselling, rather than evaluating a required period abroad or on placement, and the disadvantages are dismissed as “no disadvantages” without explanation. Develop the comparison by discussing realistic costs or access difficulties, then explain why the benefits still outweigh them. A specific example of how a placement or overseas study improves students’ skills would also make your position more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, supporting paragraphs and a conclusion, and signposts such as “Moreover” and “In conclusion” help identify the stages of your argument. The main ideas are generally understandable, but progression is limited because several points repeat the idea of a “free period” without adding a distinct reason. The relationship between studying abroad and work placement is also not consistently clear: you initially present both options, then say placement is more beneficial, but do not develop that comparison. Some references, such as “that very free period they got,” are awkward or unclear. Give each body paragraph a separate purpose and use linking phrases to show comparison and cause and effect more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “undergraduate courses,” “practical knowledge,” “work placement” and “career counseling,” so the reader can follow the general subject. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes parts of the argument less clear. Examples include “real assest,” “more beneficial stuff to do,” “make a good network,” and “useless activities.” Spelling errors such as “Now a days,” “thier” and “activites” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise academic collocations and avoid vague words such as “stuff.” For instance, describe the skills students gain or the professional contacts they establish, rather than relying on broad claims about benefits.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a relative clause in “a free period … in which they get time” and a reason clause beginning “so that.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, verb forms and sentence construction recur. For example, “every university have” should use a singular verb, while “students spent their time” needs a form consistent with the intended general meaning. The opening sentence also contains an awkwardly constructed clause, and “there are more advantages … rather than spending this time” does not form a clear comparison. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and keeping comparisons grammatically parallel. Shorter, carefully controlled sentences would help make your ideas clearer.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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