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)

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,it affects habit of studing. The student may focus mainly on working and earning money which keeps them not intersted in future study. Secondly, a breach on learning process make student off the track from getting new ideas and focus on earning money .For example: The student working in foreign country like United kingdom, United State etc mainly focus on working rather than studying and they stop exploring themself to educational sources.

In conclusion, although this period affect study habit and makes student aligned towards working due to breach in learning, I believe its benefits outweigh drwaback s, particularly because it helps student gain experience and selection of carrier goal in their future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear overall view that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and you address both sides of the question. The benefits—gaining practical experience, learning about other cultures, and exploring career options—are relevant. However, several points are asserted rather than fully explained. For instance, the claim that placements reduce interest in further study is repeated, but the response does not explain when or why this is likely, or how universities could prevent it. The example about a student exploring different jobs is also general rather than specific. Develop each main point with a clearer explanation and a concrete example, and make the comparison between the benefits and disadvantages more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. This makes the overall arrangement coherent, and signposts such as “Despite these advantages” help show the shift in focus. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, with “Firstly” and “Secondly” introducing points that are not clearly distinguished or fully connected. Some references are also unclear, such as “these trend” and “this period,” which make the reader pause to identify what is meant. Use linking phrases to show cause and effect between ideas, and ensure each paragraph develops one central point in a logical sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “international cultures,” “long term career selection,” and “learning process.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-form, and collocation errors make parts of the response difficult to read. Examples include “carrier” for “career,” “drackbacks,” “studing,” and “experience gain.” Phrases such as “learning peoples” and “breach on learning process” are also unnatural or unclear. Build a reliable set of topic vocabulary and check spelling and word combinations carefully. More precise expressions, such as “gain practical experience” and “career choices,” would help communicate your ideas more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a concession in the introduction and a conditional example. However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and verb forms sometimes make meaning harder to follow. For example, “It is often argue” needs a passive verb form, while “these trend has” has a disagreement between the subject and verb. In “This mean student explore,” several forms are missing or incorrect. Some sentences also lack clear grammatical connections, as in “a breach on learning process make student off the track.” Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and complete sentence patterns before adding more complex clauses.

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