Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11

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 all university undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or completing a work placement. Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe that the advantages are greater.

One major advantage of this policy is that students can gain valuable practical experience. This is because work placements allow them to apply the theoretical knowledge they learn at university in real situations. For example, a business student who works in a company can develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. As a result, students may become more prepared for their future careers. Another benefit is that studying abroad can help young people become more independent and open-minded.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to making these experiences compulsory. The main concern is that some students may face financial difficulties. This can be particularly difficult for students from low-income families because travelling and living abroad can be expensive. For instance, they may have to pay for accommodation, food and transportation. However, I believe that this problem is less significant than the benefits, especially if universities provide financial support or offer local work placements as an alternative.

In conclusion, although compulsory study-abroad programmes or work placements may have some drawbacks, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because students can gain practical experience and develop greater independence.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas regarding practical experience and financial barriers are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your supporting points with more detailed examples or nuanced analysis. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of ideas is restricted, preventing a higher score in this criterion.

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 topic sentence, such as 'One major advantage of this policy is...' and 'On the other hand, there are some disadvantages...'. Cohesive devices like 'However', 'For instance', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of the argument is easy to follow. To improve, you could use a wider variety of cohesive devices to create a more sophisticated flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge', 'compulsory', and 'drawbacks' correctly. The language is natural and clear, which ensures the message is conveyed without difficulty. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the 'less common' or more precise lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and topic-specific vocabulary to demonstrate a wider range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is used correctly. There are no significant errors that impede communication. You have used complex structures effectively, such as 'Although this development has some disadvantages, I believe that...' and 'This can be particularly difficult for students from low-income families because...'. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a greater variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, while maintaining your current level of accuracy.

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.