Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 4.0)

so lets begin talking, in my personal opinion all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad because including a period of time gives a student much time to focus on his studies. Their are some remarkable advantages for example students have had much time to learn and study their courses, and if we talk about work placement i think their are few disadvantages such as student wll give more time on work inistid of doing their undergraduate courses.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response gives a clear personal view in favour of including study abroad, and it briefly recognises a possible drawback of work placements. However, it addresses the question only minimally: the advantages are not explained in a way that shows why they outweigh the disadvantages, and the claim that students have “much time to learn” is unclear. The work-placement concern is also only stated, not supported with an example or explanation. The response contains 70 words, so it is 180 words below the required minimum; 13 words copied from the prompt were not counted. Develop both sides, explain your comparison, and support each main point with a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic sequence from your opinion to an advantage and then a disadvantage, and linking phrases such as “for example” and “if we talk about” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, the response is one short paragraph, so the reader cannot see a developed progression between an introduction, supporting points, and a conclusion. The relationship between studying abroad and having “much time to focus” is also not made clear. Organise the essay into paragraphs, give each one a clear purpose, and use references and transitions that show how each point supports your overall judgement. This would make the argument easier to follow rather than relying on a few general connectors.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “undergraduate courses,” “studying abroad,” “work placement,” and “disadvantages,” so the main subject is recognisable. The range is nevertheless narrow and several phrases are imprecise or repetitive: “much time to learn and study their courses” does not clearly express a specific benefit, while “give more time on work” is an awkward way to describe the drawback. Spelling errors such as “wll” and “inistid” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise topic vocabulary and check spelling; for example, explain whether placements provide practical experience or reduce time available for academic study.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes a few connected sentence forms, such as the sentence beginning “Their are some remarkable advantages” and continuing with “and if we talk about work placement,” but most structures are simple or joined loosely. Errors in sentence-level grammar include “Their are” instead of “There are,” “a student” followed by “their,” and “students have had much time,” where the tense does not fit the intended general claim. The final sentence also needs clearer grammatical construction to express the contrast between work and coursework. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, pronoun reference, and tense choice, then use a wider range of controlled complex sentences to explain causes and consequences.

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