Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14
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)
Whether skilled professionals such as medical doctors and engineers should be legally required to remain in the country where they received their education, or be permitted to seek employment abroad, is a subject of intense debate. While compelling arguments exist regarding a country’s return on investment, I believe that enforcing compulsory domestic service restricts personal freedom, and that governments should instead focus on providing competitive incentives to retain talent.
On the one hand, advocates of restricted mobility argue that the state invests heavily in training specialized professionals. In many nations, higher education in fields like medicine and engineering is heavily subsidized by taxpayers. When these graduates migrate overseas—a phenomenon often referred to as "brain drain"—the home country suffers a financial loss and faces acute shortages of essential services. For instance, many developing nations fund medical schools only to see top graduates leave for higher salaries in Western countries, leaving local hospitals severely understaffed. Proponents assert that requiring a period of service ensures that the public receives a fair return on its investment.
On the other hand, opponents contend that restricting mobility violates fundamental human rights and freedom of choice. Individuals should have the autonomy to pursue better career opportunities, higher living standards, and personal growth anywhere in the world.
In conclusion, although requiring professionals to work domestically helps protect public investment in education, restricting personal freedom is ultimately counterproductive. The best way to retain skilled workers is through incentive-driven retention rather than enforcement.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The essay addresses both viewpoints and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the response is 243 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of the ideas. While the arguments regarding 'brain drain' and 'personal freedom' are relevant and well-articulated, the conclusion and the body paragraphs could have been expanded with more detailed examples or a deeper exploration of the implications to fully satisfy the task requirements. Because the response is under-length, it cannot reach the higher bands for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the state's perspective to the individual's rights. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Although' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different arguments. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is clear, which demonstrates a good level of control over the structure of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic context. You have used sophisticated terms such as 'compelling arguments,' 'subsidized,' 'acute shortages,' and 'autonomy' correctly. The use of the term 'brain drain' is particularly effective in this context. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey complex ideas with precision. The language is natural and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The essay demonstrates a strong command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of complex sentence forms, such as the opening conditional-style sentence and the use of participial phrases like 'leaving local hospitals severely understaffed.' The punctuation is accurate, and the majority of sentences are error-free. There is a good variety of structures, and the control over grammar is consistent throughout the text. The writing is fluent and does not contain any errors that impede communication.
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