Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05

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)

In today's globalized world, skilled professionals such as engineers, scientists and doctors are vital for national development and breakthroughs, it is debated among some people how they should work for the country that made them. Nevertheless, others counter that every individual must have the freedom to work wherever they wish. I strongly believe that such white-collar workers should contribute to national progress and participate in the work of their country. On the one hand, a segment of the society feels that requiring professionals to work in their nation can bring significant benefits. The government can invest substantially in these fields in order to produce more skilled workers and build supporting infrastructure and an environment to keep them in home country. Professionals play a key and constructive role in the developing world through scientific advancements and medical research. If they move to developed nations, it does not only cause a shortage of white-collar workers but also slows down the pace of development. For instance, according to a United Nations (UN) report, a lack of skilled employees can significantly push countries behind. Countries like Vietnam and South Africa are experiencing the same problem, their professionals are migrating to different countries, and as a result, these nations have faced shortages and lack of further advancements.

On the other hand, others come up with their argument that freedom of work is every human's fundamental right and it must be respected as well as admired. Skilled workers should have the right to choose where they want to work and where not. Furthermore, they prefer to participate in other countries because developed nations often pay higher than their home nations and offer better living standards. For example, nations like the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom provide competitive annual packages and infrastructure to attract skilled workers.In conclusion, after briefly and thoroughly analyzing both viewpoints, I have examined why they should pursue work in their mother countries and why they must have liberty to choose their work destinations. I strongly think professionals should contribute to the country that produced them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both viewpoints and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported, such as the mention of the 'brain drain' in Vietnam and South Africa. However, the development of the second viewpoint is slightly less detailed than the first. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-argument is explored with the same depth as the preferred argument, perhaps by discussing the broader economic benefits of global mobility for the individual and the home country (e.g., remittances).

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two distinct viewpoints. However, there are minor issues with sentence-level cohesion; for example, the first paragraph contains a comma splice ('...breakthroughs, it is debated...'), which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for an academic task, with terms like 'globalized', 'national development', 'infrastructure', and 'fundamental right' used correctly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive or could be more precise. For instance, 'work in the country that made them' is a bit informal; 'trained in their home country' would be more academic. The range is sufficient to convey ideas clearly, and there are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer shows control over complex sentences, there are occasional grammatical errors, such as the comma splice in the introduction and the run-on sentence in the first body paragraph ('...problem, their professionals are migrating...'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases (e.g., 'in home country' should be 'in their home country'). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not hinder the reader's understanding.

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

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