Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-30

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 4.5)

It is often argue that most of the university should mention a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a job placement. Although this practice has some disadvantages, such as affect on study behaviour and decrease interest for further study, I believe it's advantages particularly experience gain and carrier selection outweigh these drackbacks.

One of the most significant benefits of such time is the experience gain by the students. The learning peoples can gain real life experience during their work.They can also learn international cultures, languages and traditions in foreign country if they get chance to study abroad. Another important benefits is that pupils can have idea about their long term carrier selection. This mean student explore different opportunities and have their choice on further carrier selection. For example; A student exploring different work can have idea about the carriier they want to be in future.

Despite these advantages, these trend has certain drawbacks. Firstly,

Advantages

1Experiences gain

2future carrier selection help

disad

1 Study affect = stuedne focus on earning money or work

2 Study breach make studnet not intersted in studying further

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You give a clear overall view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you identify relevant benefits: gaining practical experience and helping students choose a career. The example of a student exploring different jobs is relevant, but it is only briefly stated and does not show how a placement informs that choice. The disadvantages are introduced, yet the response stops before explaining them in developed prose, so the comparison is incomplete and the task is only partially addressed. The response contains 175 words, which is 75 words below the required minimum; 10 words copied from the task prompt were excluded from that count. To improve, explain both drawbacks fully, weigh them against the benefits, and support each main point with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic overall structure: an introduction states your position, a paragraph presents benefits, and a later section begins to introduce disadvantages. Linking expressions such as “Although,” “Another important benefits,” and “Despite these advantages” show an attempt to connect ideas. However, progression breaks down when the disadvantages paragraph is followed by a rough numbered list rather than developed sentences. The list also repeats points already mentioned and leaves the argument without a conclusion. Some connections between ideas are unclear, and paragraphing does not yet guide the reader through a complete comparison. Use one paragraph for each side, develop each point in a logical order, and finish with a concise conclusion that restates your judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “work placement,” “international cultures,” “traditions,” and “career selection,” so the reader can identify the subject of your argument. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or misspelled choices make the writing less clear, such as “drackbacks,” “carriier,” and “study breach.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “experience gain” and “learning peoples” do not express your meaning idiomatically. Aim to learn common academic collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, use “gain practical experience” rather than “experience gain,” and “students” rather than “learning peoples.” More precise vocabulary would help you explain the benefits and disadvantages without relying on repeated or unclear wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including “Although this practice has some disadvantages …, I believe…” and “if they get chance to study abroad.” These show an effort to vary sentence structure, but control is inconsistent and errors sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “It is often argue” instead of a correctly formed passive, “most of the university should mention,” and “This mean student explore,” where verb forms and agreement are not controlled. Articles and plurals are also often missing, as in “in foreign country” and “Another important benefits.” The response contains few fully developed sentences, limiting the evidence of grammatical range. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence patterns before adding more complex clauses.

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