Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Summit Mastery · 2026-09-16

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)

Many young people decide to take a year off between school and university to gain work experience or travel. Although some people believe that students should start university immediately, I agree that a gap year can provide valuable benefits when it is used in a productive way.

Firstly, working during a gap year can help young people develop practical skills that are not usually taught at school. For example, a part-time or full-time job can teach students how to communicate with different people, manage their time and take responsibility for their duties. These skills can make them more confident when they return to education. Moreover, earning money can teach young people how to manage their personal finances. As a result, they may become more independent and mature before starting university.

Secondly, travelling can also be an educational experience. When young people visit different places, they can learn about new cultures, languages and ways of life. This can make them more open-minded and improve their communication skills. In addition, a gap year can give students time to think carefully about their future career. For instance, a student who works in a business during this period may discover an interest in management or marketing and choose a related university course. Therefore, this experience can help students make more informed decisions about their education.

However, taking a year out is not beneficial for everyone. Some students may lose their study habits and find it difficult to return to academic life. Others may spend the year without gaining any useful experience. Therefore, young people should have a clear plan and use their time responsibly.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that a well-planned gap year can benefit young people when they return to education. Work experience and travelling can improve their practical skills, independence, confidence and understanding of the world, while also helping them make better decisions about their future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task prompt, discussing both work experience and travel during a gap year, and how these affect a student upon their return to education. A clear position is maintained throughout the response, acknowledging both the benefits and the potential drawbacks before firmly concluding in agreement with the prompt. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as learning time management through a part-time job or discovering career interests through practical exposure. The response meets all criteria for a Band 7.0 as it addresses all parts of the task with a well-developed and clear position, avoiding over-generalisation by balancing the arguments with a paragraph on potential downsides.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each main body paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the gap year, such as working, travelling, and potential downsides. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, the reliance on standard signposting words keeps the cohesion slightly mechanical rather than entirely natural or flexible, which prevents the writing from reaching the Band 8 level. Overall, referencing and paragraph transitions are smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items and phrases are used with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'practical skills', 'personal finances', 'open-minded', and 'informed decisions'. There are also occasional attempts at more precise phrasing. Word choice is generally accurate, and spelling is correct throughout the response. Although the vocabulary is somewhat standard rather than highly sophisticated, it successfully conveys precise meaning without impeding communication, comfortably securing a Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses such as 'When young people visit different places...' and '...a student who works in a business during this period may discover...'. There is good control of grammar and punctuation throughout the text. The majority of sentences are error-free, and while complex structures are attempted, they are handled accurately with very few grammatical slips. The punctuation is sound, and sentences flow smoothly, demonstrating the control expected at the Band 7.0 level.

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

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