Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05

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)

Many students are suggesting that all universities should give them a practical work placement or time to study abroad along with the regular courses. In my view, the advantages of this trend significantly outweight its disadvantages because of students get to have real-life work experience and they will get to know the foreign culture, which might help them in the future.

On the one hand, there are certain drawbacks to this development. The main disadvantage is that students might not be able to give full focus to their studies, as they have to manage time for work. This might ultimately result in lower grades. For example, many students from TU who are working and studying at the same time are getting lower grades compared to those who are only focusing on their studies. Similarly, studying abroad can be very expensive, and all the students might not be able to afford it.

On the other hand, I believe that the benefits are far more significant. Firstly, the students get a lot of experience about the work before they join the real world for work; as a result, they will get better job opportunities, as most of the companies prioritise the employee with experience rather than hiring an inexperienced one. Secondly, going abroad to study makes students more mature because they get exposed to the real world and new cultures on their own. For example, a research done by IIT Bombay suggest that the students studying abroad tend to get more comfortable living on their own compared to students living with their parents

In sum, although there are some disadvantages of studying abroad and doing an internship during the studies. This has more advantages compared to that, as this allows students to experience real-world work and make them more mature.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of TU students and IIT Bombay research. However, the development is somewhat basic. While the position is clear throughout, the arguments could be extended further to reach a higher band. For instance, the discussion on the financial burden of studying abroad is brief. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more in-depth exploration of the implications of the points raised rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the disadvantages from the advantages. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Similarly', 'Firstly', and 'As a result' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transition in the final paragraph is slightly awkward, as the first sentence is a fragment ('In sum, although there are some disadvantages...'). Improving the connection between sentences and ensuring all sentences are complete would enhance the flow and coherence of the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'internship', 'prioritise', and 'inexperienced'. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'get to have' and 'get to know' are quite informal and basic. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more precise and academic collocations. For example, instead of 'get better job opportunities', one could use 'enhance employability' or 'increase career prospects'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'outweight' is a spelling error, and 'because of students get to have' is grammatically incorrect (should be 'because students get to have'). Additionally, 'a research done by' should be 'research conducted by' or 'a study conducted by'. There are also minor punctuation and article usage issues. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy is recommended.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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