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)

People believe that higher education department should place few semester out of country universities. This rule has some pros and cons on student's life, whereas international schooling lead youngsters to acquire more opportunities in careers and improve their performance in academic system. Although, it has some negative effects on learners because they feel home sickness and adjustment problem on new place.

On the one hand, some universities offer immense chances to study abroad during their bachelor study for done some practical work related to subjects carries advantages for students. Scholars experiences substantial activities, incorporating intellectual practical work. Some universities have not immense facilities for research work , so these can recommended to go abroad for pursue their research articles. For instance, UK has advanced medical system and give significant scholarships of students to spent one or two semesters in universities and provide free accommodation.

On the other hand, out of country education opportunities has some disadvantages on learners academic performance. They don't pay emphasis on subjects because they never experience hostel life. Students feel home sickness and don't adjust with other environment that has detrimental repercussions on youngster's health. They have not habit of restaurant meals that lead stomach disorder.

In conclusion, some universities offer to spent few semester to abroad and give chance to enhance their knowledge. All universities should implement this rule in education system because students can complete their research task but it also has some negative effect on learners health and performance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the topic and present a position: the conclusion supports making overseas study compulsory, while the essay also recognises homesickness and adjustment difficulties. However, the response only partially answers the comparison in the question. It does not clearly explain whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and the benefits are mainly asserted through research opportunities and a brief UK example rather than developed with specific outcomes. The disadvantages are also narrow, focusing on homesickness, meals and health, with little discussion of work placements or how students might manage these challenges. The response is four words below the required minimum. Develop both sides more fully and state explicitly why one side is stronger overall.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph beginning “On the one hand,” a contrasting paragraph, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad movement from benefits to drawbacks. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear: the discussion moves from practical work to research facilities and then scholarships without explaining how each point supports the main argument. Some linking is mechanical, and references such as “these” in “so these can recommended” are unclear. The conclusion repeats the general points rather than resolving the outweigh question. Group each paragraph around one main idea, connect examples directly to that idea, and use clearer referencing and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “substantial activities,” “practical work,” “scholarships,” and “detrimental repercussions.” These choices show an effort to use more formal language, and the main meaning is generally recoverable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “higher education department,” “international schooling,” “for done some practical work,” and “restaurant meals.” There are also repeated forms such as “immense,” which do not fit naturally with “facilities” or “chances” here. Build a more reliable range of common academic collocations and check word forms and spelling, including “homesickness” and “students’ academic performance,” so that vocabulary communicates ideas more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “Although” and a relative clause in “practical work related to subjects.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. Examples include “universities offer … for done,” “these can recommended,” and “give significant scholarships of students to spent.” There are also problems with subject–verb agreement, articles, plurals and sentence boundaries, as in “opportunities has” and the opening sentence’s unclear construction. Practise building accurate sentences with one main clause and a correctly formed subordinate clause, then check verb forms, agreement and punctuation before adding more complexity.

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