Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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)

Some people argue that professionals such as doctors and engineers should be required to work in the country where they received their training, while other believe that they should have the freedom to work abroad. This essay will discuss both perspective. before explaining i believe that professional should be free to work abroad

On the one hand, requiring professional to work in the country where they acquired training can benefit the country and the government that they invested in their education. Government often spend a large amount of public money on state universities, training, facilities and professional development. If qualified doctors and engineers leave immediately after completing their training, the country may face a shortage of skilled workers. For example, developing countries may lose many doctors to wealthier nations, which can reduce the availability of healthcare services for local communities.

On the other hand, professionals should have the freedom to choose where they work. People invest many years of their lives in education and training, so they should be able to decide where they want to build their careers. Working abroad can also provide better salaries, working conditions and opportunities for professional development. For instance, a doctor may move to another country to access more advanced medical technology and gain experience in a specialized field. This experience could also benefit their home country if they eventually return.

In conclusion, requiring professionals to work in their training country can help prevent shortages of skilled workers, while allowing them to work abroad provides greater freedom and career opportunities. I believe professionals should be free to choose where they work, while governments should focus on creating conditions that encourage them to stay.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical reasoning, such as the mention of government investment in education and the personal autonomy of professionals. However, the development of the ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could expand on the 'brain drain' concept or provide a more nuanced solution in the conclusion. The position is consistent throughout, and the essay structure effectively covers the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother to improve the flow. For instance, the connection between the government's investment and the shortage of skilled workers could be more tightly linked with more sophisticated cohesive markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. You use topic-specific terms like 'skilled workers', 'professional development', and 'specialized field' correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'other believe' (should be 'others believe') and 'the country and the government that they invested in their education' (which is slightly awkward). To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. The range is adequate but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'before explaining i believe' (punctuation and capitalization errors) and 'requiring professional' (should be plural 'professionals'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are generally accurate, but these persistent minor errors prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for small grammatical slips and aim to use a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, with greater precision.

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

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