Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

It is often argued that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they completed their education, while others believe they should have the freedom to work in any country they prefer. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I believe professionals should be free to choose where they work.

On the one hand, many people believe that professionals should remain in their home country after completing their training. The main reason is that governments spend a significant amount of money on education, especially in public universities, where students often receive financial support. Therefore, graduates should give something back by serving their own nation. Another reason is that every country needs qualified professionals to improve essential public services, such as healthcare and infrastructure. If a large number of doctors and engineers leave, hospitals may face a shortage of medical staff, and important development projects could be delayed. For example, many developing countries struggle to provide quality healthcare because experienced doctors choose to work overseas.

On the other hand, many people argue that professionals should be free to work abroad if they wish. Everyone has the right to decide where they want to build their career. In addition, developed countries usually offer higher salaries, better working conditions and more opportunities for professional growth. Working overseas also allows doctors and engineers to learn advanced technologies and gain valuable international experience. For instance, a doctor working in the UK can improve medical skills and later return home to introduce better treatment methods and train younger doctors.

In my opinion, professionals should have the freedom to work wherever they wish because career choice is a basic right. Instead of forcing them to stay, governments should encourage them by providing better salaries, modern facilities and attractive career opportunities. This would motivate more skilled professionals to remain in their home country voluntarily.

To conclude, although requiring professionals to work in their home country can benefit society and repay the government's investment in education, I believe they should be free to work wherever they choose. Instead of making it compulsory for them to stay, governments should improve salaries and working conditions to encourage them to remain in their own country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly discussed both perspectives—the obligation to serve one's home country due to state-funded education and the individual right to seek better opportunities abroad. Your own position is clearly stated in the introduction and consistently maintained throughout the essay, particularly in the conclusion. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of developing countries struggling with healthcare and the potential for returning professionals to bring back advanced skills. The response is balanced and provides a logical progression of arguments that directly answers the task requirements.

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 transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition,' and 'To conclude.' The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different viewpoints. The flow of information is natural, and the reader is guided through your argument without any confusion. The structure is coherent and supports the overall clarity of your position.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. You use topic-specific terms such as 'qualified professionals,' 'public services,' 'infrastructure,' and 'professional growth' appropriately. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, it stays within a fairly standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common idiomatic expressions. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If a large number of doctors and engineers leave...') and subordinate clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. The writing is fluent, and the sentence structures are varied enough to maintain interest and demonstrate a high level of control over English grammar.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.