Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

I wholeheartedly believe that providing attendees of undergraduate courses with a period of time spent studying abroad, or perhaps doing a work placement, would be highly beneficial. Although, the advantages may very well balance the disadvantages, as the experience may be perceived differently from individual to individual.

I am of the belief that experience abroad has become a must in our generation, with all the benefits that it carries. It allows the students to get a feel of the outside world, and gives them an opportunity to work on their navigation skills. Additionally, it gives them an idea of how well they would be able to adapt to a new environment if they were to end up in situation where such a skill would be essential. Furthermore, it allows the students to get a taste of other cultures and lifestyles which aid their understanding of the outside world. This could be quite beneficial for those who come from stationary backgrounds, who had barely seen any place but their home country. Moreover, the change of scenery and the thrill of a new environment ought to intrigue the students and helps them feel immersed in their work and studies, and for that reason, I feel such an upgrade would be well recieved by undergraduates.

However, we mustn’t forget that to every action there will be certain disadvantages. If completing a period of study abroad or a work placement is absolutely mandatory in order to achieve your desired certificate, it could leave those who feel great anxiety at the thought of travelling unsure of what to do. There are several students out there who have a serious fear of airplanes and refuse to board one at all. Their fear could cost them a crucial certificate. Some pupils also find it quite difficult to acclimate to a new environment, and their anxiety over being in a new, unfamiliar place could greatly interfere with their work, which would directly affect the quality of their grades. Unfortunately, the percentage of students who may experience such feelings is known to be quite high.

In conclusion, I believe that incorporating the opportunity of studying abroad or completing a work placement would be a great development for undergraduate courses, and it carries many great benefits that are undoubtedly helpful in the long run. However, it isn’t as easy as it may seem, as it may inconvenience those who experience great apprehensiveness due to change. Therefore, I think the advantages perfectly balance the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. Your position is clear from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you provide good examples for the disadvantages (e.g., fear of flying, anxiety), the advantages section relies more on general statements like 'navigation skills' or 'outside world' without specific examples or deeper exploration. To reach a higher band, ensure that the advantages are supported with the same level of specific detail as the disadvantages. The conclusion states that the advantages 'perfectly balance' the disadvantages, which is a clear stance, though it could be more nuanced.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Your essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Additionally,' 'Furthermore,' 'Moreover,' and 'However' to transition between ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the argument. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, although some sentences within paragraphs could be more tightly linked to improve the flow. For instance, the transition between the benefits of culture and the thrill of a new environment could be more seamless. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'stationary backgrounds,' 'acclimate to a new environment,' and 'great apprehensiveness' show a good command of language. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'well recieved' (spelling) and 'attendees of undergraduate courses' (which is slightly unnatural; 'undergraduates' or 'students' is better). You use some less common items effectively, but the range could be expanded further to include more academic collocations to reach the highest bands. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There is good control over grammar, and most of your sentences are error-free. You successfully use conditional structures and relative clauses. There are a few minor slips, such as 'in situation where' (missing an article: 'in a situation') and 'helps them feel' (subject-verb agreement error: 'the change... ought to intrigue... and help'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. Your punctuation is generally accurate, supporting the overall readability of the essay.

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