Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In contemporary society, it is stated that all academic undergraduate courses must have a smester that spent in studying abroad and student focus on training program. In my opinion, it is a valueable achievement but it should be encouraged not compulsorary. In this way they are able to gain some knowledge out of the box. Moreover, due to this their creativity increases.

On one hand, traveling across the world during their university education helps them to learn more from different university as well as others have different teaching methods. Although when individuals from different culture meet with each other they share different knowledge, in this way they are able to connect with each other. Moreover, some was give the chance of getting employment according to their field which is quiet benefical for pupils in the future. For instance, some students are give the chance of student exchange program, in that the different pupils from various coutries go to abroad then they have a chance of learning new language and get more practical information about their specific subject.

On the other hand, forcing every student to study abroad would create problems. The main concern is cost since travel, accomodation and visa fees can be beyond the budget of low income families. As a result, talented students might be unable to graduate simply because they cannot afford the extra semester .In contrast, some students have the responsibilities of their families that make living overseas difficult for them.

In conclusion, although studing abroad can improve students knowledge and skills, it should not be complusary for everyone because the costs make it unfair for everyone. Nervertheless, sometimes it become difficult for a student to manage expenses for traveling to abroad. It needs a strong financial support which is not possible for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view: studying abroad or completing a placement can be valuable, but should not be compulsory. You also address both benefits and drawbacks, including cultural exchange, learning and employment opportunities, alongside costs and family responsibilities. These are relevant points, but several are only briefly explained. For example, the claim that creativity increases is not supported, and the employment benefit is mentioned without showing how a placement leads to work. The response also focuses mainly on studying abroad, so the work-placement option receives little direct attention. Develop each main point with a specific explanation or example, and make the comparison explicit so the reader can see why the disadvantages outweigh the advantages of making the experience compulsory.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “On one hand” and “On the other hand” helps the reader follow the main direction. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven: the first body paragraph moves from teaching methods to cultural exchange and employment without clearly linking these points. Some connectors are awkward or repetitive, and the conclusion repeats the affordability point rather than bringing the comparison together. Improve cohesion by grouping related ideas, using clear references to connect sentences, and ensuring each paragraph develops one central point. A more direct transition from the benefits to the costs would also make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “teaching methods,” “student exchange program,” “accommodation,” and “financial support,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “knowledge out of the box,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural and occasionally make the meaning less clear. Examples include “a valuable achievement,” “quiet beneficial,” and “traveling to abroad.” Spelling errors such as “smester,” “compulsorary,” and “coutries” are noticeable, while repeated use of “students” and “different” limits variety. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully; precise wording will make your ideas clearer without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession beginning “Although” and a cause-and-effect sentence with “As a result.” However, the range is limited, and complex structures are often faulty. For example, “a smester that spent in studying abroad” lacks a correctly formed verb phrase, while “some was give the chance” has errors in agreement and verb form. Other problems include “some students are give” and the sentence fragment beginning “Although when individuals…” Articles, plurals and sentence boundaries also need attention, as in “different university” and the missing space or punctuation before “In contrast.” Practise building accurate clauses first, then combine them, and proofread for verb forms and complete sentences.

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