Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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)

It is often argued that university undergraduate courses should require students to spend some time either studying abroad or gaining practical experience through a work placement. Although it creates lot of difficulties, I believe the advantages of such programmes outweigh the disadvantages.

A major benefit of studying or working abroad is that student can develop such skills that valuable practical and interpersonal skills. Academic knowledge alone may not fully prepare young people for the workplace, whereas a work placement allows them to apply what they have learned in real-world situations. For example, an engineering student who spends several months working for a construction company can gain practical experience that would be difficult to obtain in a classroom. This can also improve employment prospects after graduation.

However, there are some disadvantages to making such programmes compulsory. The most considerable issue in financial pressure. Travelling and living expences abroad can be expensive, and not every student or family could afford these costs with ease. A compulsory placement could create pressure such as unnecessary stress, especially for learners who have family responsibilities or financial difficulties.

Despite these drawbacks, I strongly believe that benefits are greater. Universities could reduce disadvantages by reducing their costs, offering work placements within students' home countries or providing financial support for those who have difficulties and allowing undergraduates work and gain real experiences.

In the conclusion, compulsory overseas study or internship may create financial and practical challenges, they can significantly improve apprantices' professional skills, independence and cultural awareness. Therefore, I believe that advantages can easily surpass the disadvantages by universities significant assistance to learners who have lot of obstacles to deal with.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, such as the development of practical skills and the mitigation of financial burdens. However, some points are slightly under-developed; for instance, the suggestion that universities could 'reduce their costs' is a bit vague and lacks a concrete explanation of how this would be feasible. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points, maintaining a consistent stance throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that every argument is supported by a more detailed explanation or a clearer example.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'However', 'For example', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the progression is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Additionally, the referencing in the final paragraph is a bit repetitive. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the response, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'practical experience', 'employment prospects', and 'cultural awareness'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'expences' (expenses) and 'apprantices' (apprentices). Furthermore, the phrase 'develop such skills that valuable practical' is grammatically awkward and lacks lexical precision. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensure accurate spelling of common academic vocabulary. The range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it creates lot of difficulties' (missing article), 'student can develop' (plural needed), and 'undergraduates work and gain' (missing 'to'). The sentence 'The most considerable issue in financial pressure' is also grammatically incorrect, as it should use 'is' instead of 'in'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring better control over basic grammar would improve your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.