Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-14

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 6.0)

Every university undergraduate subjects must include a span of time utilized in abroad studying or practicing a job placement. This would make the students get a practical experience in broadening their horizons and networking. However, it might distract the students from their routine subjects leading to weak academic documents.

Courses including a specific period of time in abroad studies or working on a job leads in gaining practical knowledge. Moreover, it also assists in acquiring experience and exposure after graduation. For instance, theoretical knowledge in colleges are limited to books and certificates, while internship and abroad studies provides a platform where the theoretical education is put in good use.

On the other hand, many are concerned that students might get distracted and would not be able to make up for their standard marks in the examination of the undergraduate courses, which is not entirely false. I remember when my cousin took over the undergraduate course, he worked partially for a company. He gained the experience, however his performance in college was below par due to which he had to give his examination again after a year. This can be the case of many students who easily gets distracted by any external activities handed to them.

In conclusion, it is necessary to understand that international exposure and working temporarily at a job increases your views and ideas about the external environment apart from your universities. However, it is also important to learn how to balance between these things along with your academics.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both the benefits and drawbacks and give a clear overall view: overseas study or placements can broaden students’ experience, but they need to balance these activities with academic work. The examples about theoretical learning and your cousin’s work experience are relevant, and the cousin’s case helps illustrate the possible academic cost. However, the position on whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is not fully explicit: the conclusion stresses balance rather than directly weighing the two sides. Some points, such as how international exposure broadens students’ views, are asserted rather than explained, while the drawback is supported with a more specific example. State your judgement directly and develop the benefits and costs with comparable detail.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, a paragraph on drawbacks, and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “On the other hand” is useful, and the cousin’s example is placed where it supports the discussion of academic distraction. This gives the essay a coherent progression. To make the organisation more effective, ensure that each paragraph develops one central point before moving to the next; the first body paragraph combines practical knowledge, post-graduation experience, and theoretical learning without fully connecting them. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “Moreover” and “However.” Clearer links between claims and examples, and more precise referencing, would make cohesion smoother and less dependent on signposting.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for the topic, including “practical experience,” “theoretical knowledge,” “exposure,” and “below par.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and you attempt more formal vocabulary. However, several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “in abroad studying,” “practicing a job placement,” and “academic documents.” “External activities handed to them” also does not express the intended idea clearly. These word-choice and collocation problems sometimes make the reader pause, although the overall message remains understandable. Aim for natural combinations such as “study abroad,” “complete a work placement,” and “academic performance,” and check that each chosen word expresses the intended meaning precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a subordinate clause in “while his performance in college was below par” and a relative clause in “activities handed to them.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles, and sentence construction remain. For example, “Courses … leads” should use a plural verb, while “theoretical knowledge … are limited” has a subject–verb agreement problem. In “internship and abroad studies provides,” the subject and verb also do not agree. There are further issues in “many students who easily gets distracted.” Review agreement carefully, especially with plural subjects, and check article use and sentence patterns when editing. More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen control.

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