Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-29

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)

These days people seems to be arguing that doing a work placement is quite beneficial for students. In contrast, to the other are of the opinion that it is better to spent period of time studying abroad. However, in this essay i will discuss both the aspects positive and negative before i get to my final opinion.

In the first place it would be quite true to say that every student does not have financial capacity to go abroad for studies. They have some limited resource of earning. For instance, one of my close friend is currently doing part time job and paying his own fees. He is working as waiter in restaurant. His clothes is washed by him as well, and all the homework. He cannot manage to go abroad because of financial instability.

To put this issue into perspective the second most important point is some people lives with their single parent, how he can leave them alone this is the growing concern. One illustration of this is my uncle got a chance of going abroad but did not avail it because of my grandmother who was living alone with him. Since then, he has been working in a same company.

In contrast to this, despite these certain points. In other peoples sentiment going abroad make you feel fresher and, make your mind broader and create capability to think something big, and multiple options and opportunities will open for you as well. Through this you traveled some of the countries which make you peaceful and cheerful as well.

To put it in a nutshell, It is indeed a debatable issue which need further analysis and discussion. However, in the light of above discussedarguement and example it would be quite safe to conclude that the advantages of doing a work placement overweigh the disadvantages of studying abroad.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the broad topic by discussing financial and family barriers alongside possible benefits of international experience. However, the response only partially answers the actual question: it asks whether the advantages of either studying abroad or completing a work placement outweigh the disadvantages, but your conclusion compares “a work placement overweigh[ing] the disadvantages of studying abroad,” which does not establish a clear, consistent position. The body paragraphs mainly explain why some students cannot go abroad, while the benefits are asserted rather than supported with a specific example or explanation. To strengthen the response, state clearly which option or overall policy you support, then develop both its benefits and drawbacks with relevant examples tied directly to the question.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion, so the reader can identify its broad structure. You also attempt to guide the reader with phrases such as “In the first place” and “To put this issue into perspective.” However, progression is not consistently clear: the essay shifts between work placements and studying abroad, and the final comparison does not follow clearly from the preceding discussion. Some linking phrases are awkward or inaccurately used, such as “In contrast to this, despite these certain points,” while “To put it in a nutshell” repeats the summarising function of the conclusion. Organise each paragraph around one clear point, connect examples explicitly to that point, and use fewer, more accurate transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “financial capacity,” “financial instability,” “opportunities” and “debatable issue,” and the reader can generally understand your intended meaning. There is also an attempt to use less common expressions, but several choices are unnatural or imprecise, such as “limited resource of earning,” “make your mind broader” and “in other peoples sentiment.” These collocation and word-form problems sometimes make the argument harder to follow. Spelling and written forms also need attention, including “arguement” and “peoples.” Aim for natural academic combinations and precise wording rather than adding elaborate phrases; for example, explain how international study develops independence or broadens students’ perspectives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional question (“how he can leave them alone”) and a sentence beginning “Since then.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles and sentence construction occur frequently enough to make some passages difficult to read. Examples include “people seems,” “better to spent,” “one of my close friend,” and “His clothes is washed.” The sentence “In contrast to this, despite these certain points” is also incomplete as written, and capitalisation of “i” and “It” is inconsistent. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and verb patterns, and revise long sentences into complete, clearly punctuated clauses.

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