Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

All university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement.

Do you think the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Some people think all university undergraduate programs should include students working or studying out of the country for some time. Although it can waste the time they can use studying their main courses, the skills and exposure they can get by working and studying abroad is very essential. The benefits of it outweigh the disadvantages.

On the one hand, university students have a limited time to complete all the given courses in their undergraduate degree. For some students, giving a period of time studying abroad can effect the time they give it to their primary subjects. For example, many students can get distracted through this arrangement which could result in lower grades. Moreover, the university fees are already so high and most students take loan to manage their university expenses. Consequently, studying abroad for some period of time can put additional financial burden on them.

On the other hand, the experience of studying or working abroad can polish their skills. They can meet a variety of people with different and more advanced experiences. This can broaden their exposure and help them in their career ahead. This can also increase their chances of getting high paying job abroad because of the networking. For instance, the students who work or study abroad are more in demand in their career due to their exposure and experiences than the average peers. Furthermore, through this arrangement, students can explore the countries where their career is more in demand and can also learn a lot. For example, petrol industry is very developed in Saudia arabia than Pakistan, so petrol engineers can get a great benefit if they work or study there.

In conclusion, apart from the time restrain and financial burden on students, I believe studying or working out of their country is very benefial for the career growth of university students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction—“The benefits of it outweigh the disadvantages”—and is maintained in the conclusion. You address both sides, identifying possible disruption to core studies and added costs, then explaining career benefits through networking and international experience. The Saudi Arabia/Pakistan example also makes the discussion more specific. This meets the task well, while showing some of the fuller development expected at the next level. However, some claims remain broad: the assertion that students abroad are “more in demand” is not explained or supported, and the financial disadvantage is mentioned but not explored in relation to whether placements could be funded or optional. Develop these points with clearer reasoning and more precise examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, with the introduction stating your view, separate paragraphs presenting disadvantages and advantages, and a concise conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers navigate the argument. Within the body paragraphs, examples generally follow the claims they illustrate. To make the organisation more flexible and cohesive, reduce repeated sentence openings such as “This can” and make references more precise: “through this arrangement” could refer to either studying or working abroad. Linking the financial point more directly to the overall comparison would also strengthen the flow between the disadvantages and your final judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “primary subjects,” “financial burden,” “networking,” and “career growth,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “petrol engineers” and “high paying job.” However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “effect the time,” “polish their skills,” “more in demand in their career,” and “time restrain.” Spelling and form errors such as “Saudia arabia” and “benefial” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural academic combinations and check spelling and word forms carefully; this would make your ideas sound more precise without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concession in “Although it can waste the time…” and a conditional result in “which could result in lower grades.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and paragraph-level punctuation is generally clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. For example, “many students take loan” needs an article or plural form, while “can effect the time they give it to their primary subjects” has an unclear grammatical construction. In “getting high paying job,” the singular count noun needs an article, and “petrol engineers can get a great benefit” would require a plural or article adjustment. Review articles, noun number, and sentence construction, while continuing to use varied clauses.

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