Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

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

On the one hand, there are some reasons why professionals should work in the country where they received their training. First of all, Pakistan needs more skilled workers, especially in smaller cities and villages. For example, many people living in rural areas do not have access to qualified doctors and engineers. If more professionals move to other countries, the shortage of skilled workers can become more severe. As a result, people in Pakistan may not receive good care and other services. Therefore, requiring professionals to work in their own country for a few years could help provide better services to the citizens in their own country.

On the other hand, many people believe that professionals should have the right to choose where they want to work. One main reason is that they may get better job opportunities, job security and higher salaries. For example, many Pakistani doctors move to countries such as the UK, Australia and Canada because they can earn more money and have better balance of life between work and family. Engineers may also find better jobs abroad. Moreover, working in another country can help professionals gain new skills and experience.

In my opinion, professionals should be free to work in another country, but they should work in their own country for two or three years before moving abroad. This can help the country to get benefit from their skills.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, particularly the focus on the brain drain in Pakistan and the personal benefits of working abroad. However, the development is somewhat limited; the arguments are clear but could be extended further with more nuanced analysis or additional examples. The conclusion is brief, and while it presents a balanced opinion, it lacks the depth of development expected at higher bands. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent position throughout.

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 views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'First of all', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transition between the final body paragraph and the conclusion is slightly abrupt. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, though some sentences could be linked more fluidly to improve the overall flow of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'skilled workers', 'job security', and 'qualified doctors'. While the range is sufficient, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. There is some repetition of basic phrases, such as 'work in the country' and 'in their own country'. To improve, the student should incorporate more varied synonyms and collocations to express ideas with greater precision and stylistic variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For instance, the use of conditional structures ('If more professionals move...') is handled correctly. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited, and there is a slight lack of variety in sentence beginnings. Punctuation is generally accurate. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice or relative clauses, with greater consistency.

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

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