Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

This trend has several benefits such as exploring how the universities in abroad taught a specific course. It also help to understand the course material by seeing practically in the workplace. But also has drawbacks including expenses during travel and the cost of living there . Although this has drawback but I personally believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Firstly, when universities include a time duration for study in abroad for undergraduate courses then this means that it offers the diversity for student to understand the course or also how this course are taught in other universities. For instance, The courses that are taught in a specific university has the different method. But If that same course taught in a different university might have that method which will be very interesting . Therefore, this time period will have some advantages.

Secondly, when universities offer work placements then this means that this will be very helpful for students to understand what they are learning. For example only theoretical knowledge is nothing if you didn't experience all the theoretical things into the work place. How they work or how you can relate the things.This also help students to understand what's going on in the workplace.In a workplace how the things runs.Is these things are the same that we are studying. This indicates that work placement during undergraduate courses are also very important and has advantages.

In conclusion, studying abroad during undergraduate courses and the work placement is also very important and have advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view in the introduction, stating that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you discuss both study abroad and work placements. The examples about encountering different teaching methods and applying theory in a workplace are relevant to the question. However, the disadvantages are only named as travel and living costs, then left unexplained, so the comparison is not fully developed. The benefits are also repeated in general terms rather than supported with specific consequences or examples. To strengthen the response, explain how costs might affect students and weigh this against concrete gains, such as improved practical skills or broader academic perspectives. Your position is present, but it needs to be sustained and supported more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The body paragraphs each focus on a relevant benefit, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” help identify the stages of the argument. However, progression within paragraphs is often unclear or repetitive. In the first body paragraph, the point about different teaching methods is restated several times without adding much explanation. The workplace paragraph shifts into a series of short questions, which interrupts the flow, and links such as “This indicates” do not clearly connect the evidence to the overall comparison. Develop each paragraph through a clear point, explanation and example, and use references and transitions more precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “theoretical knowledge,” “work placements,” “course material,” and “cost of living.” This shows that you can communicate the main subject matter. However, the range is limited, and several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “universities in abroad,” “offers the diversity,” and “how the things runs.” Repetition of “advantages,” “course,” and “understand” also makes the argument less precise. Aim to use more natural academic collocations and a wider set of terms for the outcomes of placements and international study. For example, describe how students can “apply theoretical knowledge” or “gain practical experience,” rather than repeatedly referring to understanding what they study.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some complex sentence forms, including clauses beginning with “when” and “although,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the response difficult to follow. Examples include “It also help” and “this course are taught,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect, and “Although this has drawback but” combines structures incorrectly. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly in “How they work or how you can relate the things.This also help students…” Practise building accurate sentences with one clear main clause and a supporting clause, and check agreement, articles, plurals and punctuation when editing.

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