Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-10

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)

It is argued that all undergraduate subjects taught in university should involve a period of time where students could go to a foreign university for studies or get a job. I strongly agree with the statement.

Some individuals believe that students should get an opportunity to study abroad or to work along with the university courses because it can give an exposure to students. Studying at a foreign institute means a person can interact with people from different backgrounds and can learn more from their experiences than the undergraduate courses. In addition, he has to do all the chores independetly which can make him more responsible. Moreover, doing work alongside studies can give exposure to practical life. For instance, an engineering student working at a software house can gain an insight into professional life and how the softwares are actually built. This can be valuable for him in the long term.

On the other hand, letting students study abroad or work at companies can reduce their attention span from the university coursework. Hence, they might graduate late if their courses are not completed. For example, a student might forget lessons taught to him at his university if he goes to study abroad and when he returns it might get difficult for him to catch up. Along with this, a working student might have deadlines to complete an office task, which leads to a disruption in his studies and affects graduation.

In conclusion, the advantages of studying abroad and working for a period of time outweighs the disadvantages related to it. This is because having an exposure to different cultures and working in the professional world helps a person learn more valuable things than the coursework.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction (“I strongly agree”) and conclusion, and you address both the benefits and drawbacks of study abroad and work placements. Relevant support includes the engineering student gaining insight into software development and the possibility of falling behind after returning from abroad. However, the advantages are developed more fully than the disadvantages, which are mainly framed as risks to coursework and graduation. The response also treats studying abroad and working as broadly similar without explaining whether the same benefits apply to every undergraduate subject. To strengthen the argument, develop the counterargument with a specific consequence and explain why the benefits still outweigh it, while linking your examples more directly to the claim that all courses should include such a period.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting benefits, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “In addition,” “Moreover,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help show how the ideas relate. This logical organisation is a strength. Some connections are less precise, however: “Some individuals believe” suggests you are reporting another group’s view, although the paragraph gives reasons supporting your own position. The reference in “it might get difficult for him to catch up” is understandable but could be more explicit about what the student must catch up on. Use transitions that reflect your argument accurately and connect each example directly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “different backgrounds,” “practical life,” “professional life,” and “disruption in his studies.” These phrases make the main ideas clear, and the engineering example gives you a chance to use subject-specific language. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive, particularly repeated uses of “exposure” and “valuable things.” “Get an exposure” is not natural in this context, and “the softwares” is an inaccurate form. There is also a spelling error in “independetly.” Aim for more precise academic phrasing and check spelling and countability; this would make your vocabulary more flexible and natural without changing your ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses such as “because it can give an exposure to students” and the conditional example beginning “if he goes to study abroad.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the paragraph structure supports readability. Some grammatical errors remain. In the conclusion, “the advantages … outweighs” has a subject–verb agreement error; it should be “outweigh.” In “a period of time where students could go,” “when” is more suitable for a period of time. The sentence “Hence, they might graduate late if their courses are not completed” also leaves the agent unclear. Review agreement and make clause relationships explicit, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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