Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Write about the following topic:

Many young people choose to take a year out between finishing school and starting university in order to gain work experience or to travel. The experience of non-academic life this offers benefits the individual when they return to education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience

Student answer (Band 6.5)

It is often argue that Several young people start gaining experience or to travel abroad where they choose to take a year out between finish school and starting universities while the non-academic life experience better benefits when they return to education. I completely Disagree with this view, because gaining experience or traveling around between a school or starting university might get student delay and student lose their academic momentum.

On the one hand, Student who taka a gap year may forget what they learned after spending many months working or travelling, they may lose their study habits and motivation. They also forget some knowledge they gained at school. For example, a student who spends a entire year travelling may find it difficult to adjust to attending lectures, completing assignment and preparing for examinations after such a long break.

Another reason is that a gap year does not always provide experience that is useful for a student's future education or career. Some young people may take temporary jobs simply to earn money, while others may spend most of their time travelling. These activities can certainly be enjoyable, but they may not develop skills related to their university course. For instance, a student planning to study Computer Science could gain more relevant experience by learning programming or completing technology projects instead of spending an entire year away from education.

Furthermore, students can develop practical skills without taking a full year off. Universities often provide internships, group projects and extracurricular activities that allow students to gain experience while continuing their education. This means that young people can develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills without interrupting their academic progress.

In conclusion, I disagree that taking a year out generally benefits students when they return to education. Although working and travelling can provide valuable experiences, a gap year can interrupt academic habits and may not provide relevant skills. I believe students can gain practical experience while continuing their university education.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The arguments are relevant, focusing on the potential loss of academic momentum and the lack of career-specific skill development during a gap year. The ideas are extended and supported with logical reasoning and examples, such as the comparison between general travel and specific skill acquisition in Computer Science. While the arguments are well-developed, the response could be improved by acknowledging the counter-argument more deeply before refuting it, which would provide a more nuanced discussion. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the loss of study habits or the availability of alternative skill-building opportunities. Cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'Another reason is', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the slightly awkward transition in the opening sentence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, contributing to the overall clarity of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses relevant terms such as 'academic momentum', 'extracurricular activities', and 'practical skills'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'It is often argue' (should be 'argued') and 'get student delay' (should be 'cause students to delay'). While the range is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, there is limited use of less common or idiomatic vocabulary that would be required for a higher band score. The errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and subject-verb agreement, such as 'Student who taka a gap year' (should be 'Students who take') and 'spends a entire year' (should be 'an entire'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some run-on sentences and minor errors in article usage. Despite these frequent errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the text, and the student successfully attempts to use complex structures to support their arguments.

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

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