Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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)

Nowadays, many people believe that all universities should send their undergraduate students abroad for a short period of time or for an internship or an apprentice program. There are number of pros and cons to this suggested topic but in my opinion the pros outweigh the cons.

On the one hand, if students get an international exposure it might help them greatly with their own character development as well learning number of things like the culture of other countries. Firstly, it could be an excellent opportunity for a student to get some work experience abroad which looks great in their resume. Secondly, they get learn the hardships of living alone in a different country which also gives them independence. Moreover, students could learn about different culture of the country along with how education is perceived their. This could also be an exciting chance to explore a new country.

On the other hand, these semester exchange programs and internships are not always funded by the universities and going abroad requires a good amount of funds. In result, not all the students could afford a trip abroad and this could be financially challenging. Furthermore, there are many students who might not do well in a foreign country alone as them might be introverted and this could cause them to feel lonely and socially deprived. In addition, if the native language of the country is not familiar with the student this leads to communication and understanding problems with teachers, student and colleagues.

In conclusion, all universities should offer undergraduates an opportunity to study abroad or work there for a short period of time. The upsides to this time spend abroad is much greater than the downside which certainly does not mean the drawbacks should be neglected.

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, covering personal development, employability, and cultural awareness on one side, and financial and emotional challenges on the other. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'hardships of living alone' is mentioned but not fully explored in terms of how it specifically benefits a student's long-term career or maturity. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis for each point rather than listing them briefly. The conclusion is clear but could be more reflective of the main body arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the transition between some sentences is slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing. For instance, 'In result' is an incorrect collocation for 'As a result'. Additionally, the flow within paragraphs could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the cause and effect of the points raised. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, but the range of cohesive devices is somewhat limited.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'semester exchange programs', 'internship', and 'character development'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'get learn' instead of 'get to learn', 'perceived their' instead of 'perceived there', and 'not familiar with the student' instead of 'the student is not familiar with'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. The range is sufficient to communicate, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that slightly distract the reader. Examples include 'There are number of pros' (missing article), 'if students get an international exposure' (unnecessary article), 'as them might be introverted' (incorrect pronoun), and 'student and colleagues' (missing pluralization). While you attempt complex sentences, the control over articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement is inconsistent. To improve, pay closer attention to basic grammatical accuracy and ensure that your complex structures are error-free, as these errors currently prevent the essay from reaching a higher band.

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

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