Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-02

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 widely debated topic that all university undergraduate curriculum ought to include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing internship. I strongly believe that its advantages outweight the drawbacks.As spending time abroad or doing work in industry give you explosure that professionally work is done, Moreover abroad studies helps you gain international explosure in furture essay we will discuss how it outweight drawbacks.

First and foremost studying abroad gives opportunity to engage with international environment and built connections.These experiences helps you to get hired by international companies.For instance i apply for international companies such as fang(facebook,amazon,apple,google) but unfortunately after clearing initial round i got rejected in interview because i don't have any kind of international experience. So when you spend time as an international student it helps you to align with international environment and their system. As a result your chances to get hired in internationally increased significantly.

Moreover doing internship helps you to understand the working environment of company, also it helps you to gain knowledge about the latest technologies used by the companies.For instance i don't have any experience about how companies operates before applying for a job, So doing internships helps me gain real world experience and a strong profile for the future opportunities.Consequently i got more job selection chances than other candidates.

To sum up i strongly believe that doing interships helps you to gain the valuable experience and studying abroad gives you advantage to learn about international system.As a result you chances of getting hired will be increased.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear view that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks and address both study abroad and internships. The examples about applying to international companies and gaining workplace experience are relevant, but the discussion is mostly focused on employability; other possible benefits or disadvantages are not explored, and several claims are asserted rather than explained. For example, explain how international study develops skills that employers value, and consider a drawback such as cost or disruption to study before weighing it against the benefits. The response is 246 words, so it does not meet the 250-word minimum; the 10 words copied from the task prompt were not counted. Developing your reasoning and adding a brief counterpoint would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The paragraphs also have clear central topics, with the first discussing international study and the second internships. Linking expressions such as “First and foremost,” “Moreover” and “To sum up” help signal these stages. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some connections are unclear. For instance, the personal example about being rejected in an interview is followed by a broad claim about international experience without fully explaining the link. The introduction also promises to discuss how the benefits outweigh drawbacks, but the body does not examine any drawbacks. Use clearer references and explain how each example supports the main point, rather than relying mainly on transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “international environment,” “working environment,” “latest technologies” and “real world experience.” This gives you enough language to communicate the main ideas. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-form and collocation errors make parts less clear, such as “outweight,” “exposure,” “built connections” and “job selection chances.” Repetition of “helps you” and “experience” also reduces flexibility. Aim to use more precise phrases and check spelling carefully; for example, describe how a placement “provides practical experience” rather than repeating that it helps someone gain experience. More varied, accurate vocabulary would make the argument clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “As a result your chances to get hired…” and “Consequently i got more job selection chances…”. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “experiences helps” and “studying abroad… give,” inconsistent tense in “i apply” and “i got rejected,” and missing or incorrect articles in phrases such as “gives opportunity” and “in interview.” Several sentences also run together, particularly in the introduction, where a full stop or semicolon is needed before “Moreover.” Practise accurate sentence boundaries, agreement and consistent tense, then build longer sentences only when you can control their structure.

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