Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-01

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 6.0)

It is undeniable that, many young people decide to take a year out after finishing school and starting universities. During this period, they may work, Wander or can take part in the volunteer activities. I partly agree that the experience of non-academic life benefits students when they return to education, because although a gap year can provide valuable life skills, it can also have some negative consequences.

On the one hand, taking a year gap can help youth individuals to gain valuable practical experience and become independent. Working or travelling allows students to develop their communication, problem solving skill and financial skills that are difficult to learn in classroom or in the text book. For example, a student who work on a hotel during a gap can develop his communication skill and customer service relation that are useful in getting a degree in tourism or in hospitality management. Therefore, getting a meaningful experience outside of the classroom helps the students to build their career in their interested field.

On the other hand, taking a year gap can create a difficulties for some students. One of the major reason is that they may loose their academic momentum after spending long period away form the formal education. They become more used to their working or travelling habit and find it difficult to return to regular study. In addition, not every student uses the year productively. For instance, a student who spends most of the year travelling and relaxing may find it difficult to concentrate on lectures and assignments after entering university. Thus , a year gap not itself be a beneficial and may actually become a worse if it is poorly planned.

In conclusion, I partly agree that non-academic experiences during a gap year benefit students. Such experiences can develop independence and practical skills, but they may also lead to a loss of academic focus if the year is not properly planned. Therefore, students should carefully consider how they intend to use their time before taking a gap year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that is maintained throughout. The student acknowledges both the benefits and potential drawbacks of a gap year, which demonstrates a balanced approach. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the tourism student gaining practical experience. However, some arguments could be developed further; for instance, the point about losing academic momentum is mentioned but could be expanded with more specific detail on how this impacts long-term success. 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, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with punctuation, such as the space before the comma in 'Thus ,'. Despite these small slips, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'academic momentum', 'practical experience', and 'hospitality management'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'youth individuals' (should be 'young people') and 'work on a hotel' (should be 'work in a hotel'). Additionally, there are minor errors like 'loose' instead of 'lose' and 'form' instead of 'from'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. A more varied and precise vocabulary would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('a student who work' instead of 'works') and incorrect article usage ('the text book'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are inconsistent spaces before commas. While the student attempts complex sentences, the frequency of minor errors is noticeable. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for small slips that occur throughout the text. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the response.

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