Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09
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 7.0)
In today’s globalized world, the mobility of skilled professionals has become a widely debated issue. Some people argue that individuals such as doctors and engineers should be obligated to work in the country where they received their training, while others believe that they should have the freedom to choose where they work. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own opinion.
According to the first viewpoint, it should be said that studies for such complicated specialties are usually provided by the government for free as a protection from the issue that is widely known as brain drain. Therefore, requiring professionals to remain in their home country can bring significant benefits. For instance, in many developing countries, there is a shortage of qualified medical staff. If trained doctors move abroad, it can lead to negative consequences for the level of national healthcare. Enforcing such a policy could help maintain crucial services and ensure a return on educational investments.
On the other hand, restricting professionals’ freedom to choose their life paths can be unfair and ineffective. Individuals should have the right to define their future, seek better opportunities, and higher salaries. Simultaneously, many experts want to gain work experience in different circumstances in other countries, which would be different from those they are used to during their training. Finally, international experience could be beneficial, if they decide to return later. These are the reasons why, from my perspective, professionals should be free to choose their work and living area.
Although both perspectives have valid arguments and concerns, I believe that respecting individual freedom is essential and governments should address national needs through more effective and balanced approaches, such as creating more attractive working conditions and incentives to retain talent voluntarily. Encouraging is a more sustainable solution.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the discussion on 'brain drain' and the economic incentives for retention. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the counter-argument regarding individual freedom could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by acknowledging the ethical dilemma of public funding versus personal liberty more explicitly. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a logical flow of ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two viewpoints and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'According to the first viewpoint', 'On the other hand', and 'Simultaneously' are used appropriately to guide the reader. The transition between paragraphs is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout. The structure is coherent, and the logical flow is maintained from the introduction to the final summary, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient and generally appropriate for the task. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'brain drain', 'qualified medical staff', and 'educational investments' effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive or could be more precise, such as 'work and living area' or 'encouraging is a more sustainable solution'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the sophisticated, natural collocation that would characterize a band 8 or 9 response. However, there are no significant errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar is generally strong. There are minor issues, such as 'it should be said that studies... are usually provided', which is slightly wordy, and the final sentence 'Encouraging is a more sustainable solution' is grammatically incomplete as it lacks an object or clear reference. Despite these minor slips, the majority of the text is accurate, and the punctuation is handled well. The range of structures is sufficient to support the clear communication of ideas.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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