Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12

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 7.5)

The question of whether highly skilled professionals, such as medical doctors and engineers, should be obligated to remain in the country where they received their education is a topic of intense debate. While mandatory service ensures that nation states retain vital human capital after investing in public education, I believe that individual freedom of mobility and international professional collaboration ultimately yield greater long-term benefits.

On the one hand, proponents of restricting professional migration argue that state-funded higher education is a substantial public investment. In many nations, training a single medical specialist or complex engineer requires significant government subsidies, clinical facilities, and faculty resources. When newly qualified professionals emigrate immediately upon graduation—a phenomenon frequently termed the "brain drain"—the home country suffers a direct financial loss and a critical shortage of essential services. For instance, developing countries that subsidize medical training often face severe healthcare deficits in rural areas when doctors migrate to high-income nations. From this perspective, requiring a period of mandatory public service serves as a fair return on public investment and stabilizes essential national infrastructure.

On the other hand, advocates for free mobility argue that restricting where professionals can work infringes upon fundamental human rights and personal liberty. Higher education students often contribute to their tuition through fees, personal loans, or academic merit, and placing geographical restrictions on their career choices can stifle personal ambition and professional growth. Furthermore, international experience often enhances a professional's skill set. Engineers or medical researchers who work in cutting-edge facilities abroad frequently gain specialized expertise, adopt advanced technologies, and foster cross-border research collaborations. When these individuals eventually return or partner with their home institutions, they bring back invaluable global standards and knowledge that elevate domestic industries far more than mandatory retention would.

In my opinion, forcing professionals to remain in their country of training is a short-sighted solution to a systemic issue. Instead of enforcing legal bonds or travel restrictions, governments should focus on creating attractive working conditions, competitive compensation, and advanced research infrastructure at home. Encouraging voluntary retention through incentives—such as tax benefits, research grants, or clear career progression—respects individual freedom while naturally mitigating the brain drain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—mandatory public service for professionals and the right to free mobility—and clearly stating a well-developed personal opinion. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay. The arguments are thoroughly extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the 'brain drain' phenomenon in developing nations and the benefits of international cross-border research collaborations. The ideas are logically structured, and the response meets the requirements of a Band 8 level for Task Achievement by thoroughly covering all parts of the prompt with well-developed ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a strong introductory stance, followed by balanced body paragraphs representing both viewpoints, and concluding with a clear synthesis of the author's opinion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', ensuring smooth transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Paragraphing is managed skilfully and appropriately, fitting the Band 8 descriptor where ideas are logically sequenced and all aspects of cohesion are well managed.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range suitable for an academic response. Sophisticated vocabulary items and collocations are used effectively, including phrases such as 'human capital', 'state-funded higher education', 'subsidiary', 'brain drain', and 'systemic issue'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies or less common items, but overall control of lexical features is strong. The language allows for precise conveyance of complex arguments, easily meeting the criteria for a Band 7.5 or 8.0, and is accurately applied without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing features a wide range of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing complex noun phrases, subordinate clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., 'When newly qualified professionals emigrate immediately upon graduation—a phenomenon frequently termed the 'brain drain'—the home country suffers...'). Grammatical control and punctuation are handled expertly throughout the text, with only very occasional, non-systematic slips that never impede communication. This demonstrates the control characteristic of a Band 8 performance.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.