Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

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 a lot of difficulties, I believe the advantages of such programmes outweigh the disadvantages.

A major benefit of studying or working abroad is that students can develop 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 is financial pressure. Travelling and living expenses abroad can be expensive, and not every student or family can afford these costs with ease. A compulsory placement could create pressure and unnecessary stress, especially for learners who have family responsibilities or financial difficulties.

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

In conclusion, although compulsory overseas study or internships may create financial and practical challenges, they can significantly improve apprentices' professional skills, independence, and cultural awareness. Therefore, I believe that the advantages can easily surpass the disadvantages if universities provide significant assistance to learners who have a 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 and logically developed. For instance, the paragraph on financial pressure provides a balanced view, and the subsequent paragraph offers practical solutions to mitigate these issues. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarises the main points. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific examples or elaborate further on the long-term career benefits to add more depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, such as the benefits of practical experience or the challenges of financial constraints. Cohesive devices like 'Although', 'However', 'For example', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through your argument. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the benefits to the drawbacks and finally to potential solutions. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'interpersonal skills', 'employment prospects', and 'financial pressure' are used accurately. You also attempt some less common collocations, such as 'surpass the disadvantages' and 'mitigate the challenges'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated, topic-specific academic terms could elevate the score further. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choice is generally natural and fits the context well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinating conjunctions effectively, such as in the sentence 'Although it creates a lot of difficulties, I believe the advantages of such programmes outweigh the disadvantages.' The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of your ideas. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or conditional sentences, to demonstrate even greater flexibility in your writing.

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.