Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-03

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)

In recent times, education institutions should poses undergraduates to study in abroad to get international exposure. Furthermore, the concept of internship should be a part of their coures to give them mentorship and allow to learn hand-on skills as well. The merits outweigh the demrits of this phenomenon.

There are many reasons, which shows how it is crucial for scholars to participate in industrial training. Foremost, work experience is most important factor, so puplis can learn several skills. It is also a right time to prove and show work ethics and can work on weak areas such as communication skills, cooperate behaviour and efficiency. Under the guidance of professional skilled staff they will able to handle burden and the pressure of projects's deadline. On the one hand, financial independece is imperative thing, which lead them to learn the significance of wealth in life to fullfil all basic needs. For example, In the UAE all undergraduates are working in tech companies and managing meetings and giving presentaions to international clients. As a result, they promote by their senior executives to upper position with respect and responsibility.

In addition, if students have the chance to study in international universties, so they will learn numerous aspects of life. With an intenational exposure they will ready to work anywhere in the world. In developed nations the standard of living in genearlly high, which provides many facilities such as better infrastructure, advanced transportion and innovation. Moreover, by engaging with different cultures they can explore regions and traditions of any particular country and also exchange cultural or moral values with strangers.

In conclusion, universities and education institutes should introduce more courses which encourage pupils to learn and adapt all work standards. As a result, they can contribute in their country and environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you give relevant reasons connected to work experience and international exposure. The discussion of practical skills, professional guidance and cultural exchange addresses both options in the prompt. However, the response focuses almost entirely on benefits and does not explain any disadvantages or why they are outweighed, so this part of the question is only partially addressed. Some claims also need clearer development: the UAE example about undergraduates being promoted to senior positions is asserted without explaining how a placement leads to this outcome. To strengthen the response, acknowledge a realistic drawback, such as cost or disruption to studies, then compare its impact with the benefits using a specific, well-explained example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The paragraphs generally group related points, and signposts such as “Furthermore,” “In addition” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. For example, the first body paragraph moves from work skills to financial independence and then to promotion without showing how these points connect. Some linking is mechanical or inaccurate, as in “On the one hand,” where no contrasting “other hand” follows, and “if students have the chance …, so they will learn,” which combines connectors awkwardly. Use clearer topic sentences and explain the relationship between each supporting point rather than relying mainly on transition phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “international exposure,” “work ethics,” “financial independence,” “infrastructure” and “cultural values.” These choices show an effort to discuss education and employment beyond basic terms. However, spelling errors and inaccurate word choice are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause: examples include “coures,” “demrits,” “puplis,” “independece” and “transportion.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “poses undergraduates to study in abroad” and “handle burden.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For instance, use “require undergraduates to study abroad,” “manage workloads” and “work-placement opportunities.” This would make your vocabulary more precise while preserving the relevant range you already attempt.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses beginning with “which” and “if,” and most of your meaning can be followed. However, errors in sentence construction and grammatical patterns recur. For example, “education institutions should poses undergraduates” has an incorrect verb form and structure; “they will able to handle” is missing “be”; and “if students have the chance …, so they will learn” uses an unsuitable clause pattern. There are also agreement and article problems, as in “many reasons, which shows” and “most important factor.” Work on subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete verb phrases, and avoid joining a conditional clause to a result with both “if” and “so.” More accurate control of these patterns would make your complex sentences clearer.

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

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