Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-31

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 8.0)

Many people believe that it should be obligatory for undergraduates to either study abroad as an exchange student for some amount of time or either do a job placement. I firmly hold the view that the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks because it prepares students for adulthood and allows them to have better career opportunities.

The most compelling argument for this stance is the fact that if university students spend a period of time studying in a foreign country, they can transition into adult life more smoothly. When a young student goes to a foreign university, they meet new people and learn how to interact with strangers; this can improve their social skills. Additionally, these students will learn how to survive alone. Students will learn fundamental life skills such as cooking and cleaning which they might not have learnt before because of dependence on family. It will allow the youth to be self-reliant and independent. All of these skills will help students adapt to adult life fairly comfortably. For example, Pakistani students who studied one year in the USA as part of an exchange program had better conversational skills and self-confidence compared to their counterparts who did not.

Additionally, undergraduates who do a work placement as a part of their course would have multiple job opportunities in the future. In universities, students mainly gain theoretical knowledge about their course, so this addition would also help them gain practical expertise, Students can learn how they can implement in knowledge in real-life. The job market is extremely competitive, so organisations prefer students with relevant practical experience over those who only have theoretical learning. Furthermore, people who do a temporary work placement at a company could be offered direct full-time job opportunities. For example, undergraduate students of FAST university have extremely high employment rates because their courses include a mandatory internship period. This gives students an edge in the job market as they know how to implement their knowledge in their workfield.

However, there are many who think that the disadvantages of this situation far exceed the benefits. Such individuals consider undergraduate students to be young and incapable of surviving alone in a foreign country or to work a job placement. Although these people speak from a place of concern, I think that in order to have a society where young people are independent and able enough to compete in competitive markets, such measures are necessary.

Conclusively, in my perspective undergraduate courses should integrate a mandatory foreign study exchange program or a work placement to help prepare students for adult life and have better chance at securing jobs in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are well-developed, with specific arguments for both personal development and career advancement. The inclusion of examples, such as the mention of Pakistani exchange students and the FAST university internship program, adds depth to the argument. The counter-argument is acknowledged and effectively refuted, which demonstrates a strong grasp of the task requirements. The response is well-structured and fully answers the question regarding whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'Furthermore'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body paragraphs, counter-argument, and conclusion. While some cohesive devices are standard, they are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure supports the argument well, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'transition into adult life', 'theoretical knowledge', and 'competitive job market' are used accurately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the meaning is consistently clear. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate, it could be further elevated with more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task and shows good control over word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar and punctuation, with many error-free sentences. Minor slips occur, such as 'implement in knowledge' (should be 'implement knowledge') and 'either do a job placement' (the 'either' is redundant). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The use of complex structures, such as conditional sentences and relative clauses, is handled well, demonstrating a solid command of English grammar suitable for this level.

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