Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-10

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)

Unanimously, in this period of technology, many young people decide to take a gap year between school and university. During this period, they may work, travel or learn new skills. I strongly agree that this experience can benefit student when they return to their studies because it helps them become more mature and independent.

Firstly, taking a gap year can provide young people with valuable work experience. Working in a company, shop or resturant can teach them important skills such as communication, teamwork and time management These skills are not always learned in a classroom. Moreover, earning their own money can make young people more responsible and confident. For example, a student who works for a year before university may learn how to deal with different people and manage their daily expenses.

Secondly, travelling during a gap year can also be a life-changing experience. Young people can explore new places, meet people from different cultures and learn to deal with unfamiliar situation. As a result, they may become more open-minded and self-reliant. When they return to education, they can have a clearer idea about their future goals and may take their studies more seriously. However, a gap year is not beneficial in every situation. Some students may lose their academic momentum and find it difficult to return to regular study.

In conclusion, I believe that taking a gap year can be highly beneficial if it is well planned. Work experience and travelling can develop important life skills, maturity and confidence, which can help student perform better when they return to education.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

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 well-supported with examples, such as learning communication and time management. The inclusion of a counter-argument regarding the loss of academic momentum shows a balanced approach, although this could have been integrated more smoothly into the overall argument. The response is well-developed, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. The ideas are extended sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the development of the argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The student uses relevant terms like 'academic momentum', 'self-reliant', and 'unfamiliar situation'. There are some minor errors, such as 'resturant' (spelling) and 'student' (should be plural 'students'). While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would characterize a higher band. However, the meaning is always clear, and the word choice is generally appropriate for the context of an academic essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the majority of sentences are clear. However, there are some recurring errors, such as missing plural markers ('help student' instead of 'help students') and a missing punctuation mark after 'time management'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. The use of complex structures is present, but the accuracy is not consistent enough to be considered 'frequent error-free sentences'.

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

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