Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 argued that all universities should offer a semester spent studying overseas or doing a job before degree completion. However, I personally contend that disadvantages surpass the advantages.

On the one hand, benefits of studying abroad will be employment and social networking. To elaborate my meaning, in our country most of learning consist of theory and lectures, that is only done in classroom. For instance, many institutes of Europe offers a scholarship for learners to come in their nation and enjoy schooling in better atmosphere. Furthermore, in overseas there are numerous companies that face lack of employment every year. These organisations give employment to talented individuals from different nations. As a result of this, scholars can gain confidence and social network.

On the other hand, drawbacks of studying abroad and doing a work placement in period of time in the university undergraduate courses. Firstly, the expenses of visa embacy and fees of overseas department. This is because not all families can afford these expenses. Secondly, there are a lot of scamers has offices in Pakistan and India that promises to get work perment and educational visa. Thirdly, trust issues people cannot trust consultants. A prime example of this is that, Europian embacies does not give visa to Asian citizens.

In conclusion, although the merits such as employment and networking are indispensible but the demerits expenses, scaming, trust issue and completely diverse land outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You state a clear view in the introduction—that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages—and you discuss both benefits and drawbacks. However, the response only partially fulfils the task: the advantages are briefly described, while the disadvantages focus mainly on visa costs, scams and trust rather than explaining the effects of a compulsory placement on undergraduate study. The claim that European embassies do not issue visas to Asian citizens is also too broad and does not provide reliable support. The conclusion contains a contradiction: it says the disadvantages “outweigh the disadvantages,” rather than comparing them with the advantages. The response is 13 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop and support your ideas. Explain each main point with a relevant example and state the comparison accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the broad direction. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven. The advantages paragraph moves from classroom learning to scholarships and then employment abroad without clearly showing how each point supports the argument. In the drawbacks paragraph, “Thirdly, trust issues” is not developed into a complete, connected explanation, and the final example does not clearly follow from it. Some linking phrases feel mechanical, while the conclusion repeats a list rather than synthesising the comparison. Group related points and use clearer links between each claim, its explanation and its example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “social networking,” “scholarship,” “talented individuals,” and “expenses,” and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices or collocations make parts difficult to interpret. For example, “employment” is used where you appear to mean job opportunities, and “in overseas” is not a natural expression. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “embacy,” “scamers,” “perment,” and “Europian,” which reduce precision. Some phrases, such as “completely diverse land,” do not clearly express a specific disadvantage. Build a more accurate set of topic phrases and check spelling; choose words that state the intended idea directly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You use some simple sentences and attempt longer structures with clauses, such as “This is because not all families can afford these expenses.” However, the range remains limited, and complex attempts often contain errors that make the reader pause. Examples include “most of learning consist,” “many institutes of Europe offers,” and “there are a lot of scamers has offices,” where agreement and sentence construction are faulty. Articles and plural forms are also inconsistent, as in “in the university undergraduate courses” and “trust issue.” The conclusion’s comparison is grammatically formed but communicates the wrong relationship by saying the disadvantages outweigh themselves. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and build complex sentences around one clear main clause, checking each sentence for complete structure.

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