Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-05

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)

Many young people decide to take a gap year after completing school and before entering university, either to gain practical work experience or to travel. It is argued that such non-academic experiences can be beneficial when they resume their studies. I completely agree with this view because a gap year can help young people develop practical skills, independence and maturity.

On the one hand, experience of taking break of about a year can benefit the students after returning to the university. In that time student can learn practical skills like marketing, web-developer and graphic designer. It can also improve communication, time management and teamwork that cannot be expected after continuous studies. Taking a break make students able to better understand their career so they can wisely choose it. For example, a student doing part-time job after school is far much responsible and determined in the university.

On the other hand, travelling is also beneficial and vital for a student after school. By discovering various cultures and people, students can better know about them and can also gain knowledge. Going on trip in a gap year can also bring confidence and independence in a student's overall well-being. However, by meeting new people students can learn skills on how to handle a new situation. For instance, travelling can make young people more independent, confident and open-minded.

In conclusion, gap year cannot replaces an academic education, but non-academic experience can make a student more mature and motivated at a university level rather than pursuing education continuously.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas regarding work experience and travel are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of marketing and web development skills. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited; for instance, the claim that a student doing a part-time job is 'far much responsible' is a generalisation that lacks deeper analysis. To reach a higher band, you should expand on how these specific experiences translate into academic success rather than just listing benefits. Overall, the response is clear and focused, meeting the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main arguments. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the transition between the benefits of travel and the development of independence is a bit abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'non-academic experience' and 'practical skills'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'taking break of about a year' (should be 'taking a break') and 'marketing, web-developer and graphic designer' (inconsistent noun forms). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Expanding your vocabulary to include more sophisticated collocations would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'Taking a break make students able' (subject-verb agreement), 'far much responsible' (incorrect comparative structure), and 'gap year cannot replaces' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally correct, but the frequency of these grammatical slips prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative adjectives, and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.

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

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