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)

I largely agree that institutions should include a course related to study abroad or encourage students to participate in internship programs. These courses are vital for the individual growth, enabling them to explore other cultural traditions and exposure to high-quality education. The prime reason is that studying abroad helps students to explore other cultures and traditions as well as access to world-class education. This is because they spend their time with different countries people during study and make new friends. As a result, they learn new languages, cultural norms and try to adjust themselves according to their environment. For example, many students who want to study abroad always try to familiarize themselves with local culture and language. As they believe that these things make their daily life easier. Another important reason is that currently many universities have contracted with numerous organizations to facilitate students with practical work. This is because it enables the students to interact with industry experts and learn about production processes. Therefore individuals will have the opportunity to build and sharpen their skills, which are not only crucial for their professional career but also enhance their chances of getting a job after graduation. For instance, now many employers have great expectations from students after graduation such as work experience during study and proof of work. Some people argue that study abroad is costly, as it is only for short time opportunity so why should we spend too much during study. Although, this concern is valid, it can be addressed by targeting scholarships, study exchange programs. As many institutions have links with international institutes that also promote semester exchange programs for undergraduate students at a low cost. Therefore, I strongly support the view that every student should be encouraged to study abroad and must involve themselves in practical skills related to their studies, because these opportunities help them in their professional life but also in growth of their career.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in favor of mandatory study abroad or work placements. The ideas are relevant, focusing on cultural exposure and professional skill development. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive; for instance, the points about 'exploring other cultures' are restated in the first and second paragraphs. While the counter-argument regarding cost is acknowledged and addressed, the overall depth of the argument could be improved by providing more specific, concrete examples rather than general statements about 'many universities' or 'many employers'. The position is clear throughout, but the supporting arguments would benefit from more nuanced analysis to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'The prime reason is', 'As a result', and 'Another important reason is' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. Referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences feel a bit abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the benefits of study abroad to the benefits of work placements, followed by a counter-argument and a concluding summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'internship programs', 'production processes', and 'semester exchange programs'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'contracted with numerous organizations' (should be 'partnered with') and 'different countries people' (should be 'people from different countries'). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

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 frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the individual growth', 'the growth of their career'), preposition usage, and sentence fragments or awkward phrasing like 'as it is only for short time opportunity'. Subject-verb agreement and pluralization are occasionally inconsistent. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the essay from reaching the 7.0 band, which requires more frequent error-free sentences and better control over complex structures.

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