Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-01

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)

In recent years, all university undergraduate courses should include over a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement both are significantly it has become increasingly common. In my view, the advantages of this trend important outweigh it's disadvantages because of bechlors students in abroad focused both place like studying and working.

On the one hand, there are certain drawbacks to this development. The main disadvantage is that if students go to abroad to study pursue but they are not any work so sometimes many students are not complete their ungratuated courses in university because they are not work therefore, creating programs to payment fees. Consequently, they come from university at home .

On the other hand, I believe that the benefits are far more significant. Firstly, many students go to abroad from village to complete their undergraduate courses the benefits of university studying first provided high facilities saftey which can lead to manage their studying and work . To illustrate, In abroad students sometimes go to studying others time doing work because they are arrange their fees and personal activities. Secondly, working a part time job students has no problems their study. As a result, their are successful their studying and work and also make personal expenses and undergraduate courses fees.

In conclusion, despite some minor negative consequences, I believe the advantages of studying at abroad are much more prominent because students doing work regularly hostel they make their personal spending monry and paying school fees.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You give a clear overall view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you attempt to discuss both sides. However, the response only minimally addresses the question because the reasons are difficult to follow and are not sufficiently explained. For example, the disadvantage paragraph says students may not complete their courses if they do not work, but the connection between overseas study, employment, and course completion is unclear. The benefits paragraph mentions facilities, part-time work, fees, and personal expenses, but does not explain how a required placement would benefit all undergraduates. The response is also 12 words below the 250-word minimum, which limits the opportunity to develop relevant examples. Explain each main point clearly and connect it directly to the proposed requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph about disadvantages, a paragraph about advantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” helps readers identify these sections. However, progression within paragraphs is often unclear, and several sentences combine ideas without showing how they relate. For instance, the disadvantage paragraph moves from studying abroad to not working, course completion, and fees, while the links between these points are hard to follow. The conclusion repeats the benefits of earning money and paying fees rather than drawing the discussion together. Use one central point per paragraph, then explain it in a logical sequence with clear references and linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “undergraduate courses,” “part-time job,” “personal expenses,” and “disadvantages.” However, the range is limited and many word choices, collocations, and spellings make the meaning difficult to understand. Phrases such as “students go to abroad,” “high facilities saftey,” and “make personal spending monry” are not natural or clear in this context. There are also repeated references to studying, working, fees, and students, with little variation. Build a reliable set of topic phrases and check how words combine: for example, use “study abroad,” “access to better facilities,” and “cover living expenses.” More accurate, varied wording would make your ideas easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You try to use both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a conditional structure beginning “if students go…” and a result clause introduced by “Consequently.” However, sentence structures are frequently faulty, and errors often obscure the intended meaning. The opening sentence has no clear grammatical structure, while “students has no problems” shows a subject–verb agreement error and “their are successful” confuses “there” and “they.” Articles, prepositions, and verb forms are also often inaccurate, as in “go to abroad” and “students are not complete.” Aim first for accurate short sentences with a clear subject and verb, then combine related ideas using correctly formed clauses. Check agreement, verb forms, and sentence boundaries during revision.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.