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)

Many argue that undergraduate courses should have options to study in foreign countries or jobs related to the course. Even though there are certain disadvantages regarding this ; I believe the advantages will be superior as studying in other countries or having jobs during studies grants students to be experienced in their fields and exposes them to different education systems.

Firstly, having a job as an undergraduate student can have a significant impact on a student's learning process as it helps them to be more skilled at their relevant studies. In this modern era most of the companies usually search for candidates with more experience; as a result, the candidate with the most experience gets hired and eventually gets a better job opportunity. A classic example would be, many freshers looking for work opportunities in China usually need to show related work experience of a certain period of time. Even though it can be argued that having a job while studying can hamper the studies of a student, the advantage of this is immense.

Secondly, the opportunity to study in overseas as a part of undergraduate study is effective in a student's life as it makes them explore various education systems. Each institution's alumni has a distinct way of teaching and mindset, so staying in the same environment cannot give the scope to the learners to explore different education systems. There are certain restrictions about the foreign education as well like the visa processing might be overwhelming for students or the requirement of proper funding might be hindering as well. For instance, the education government of Bangladesh has now granted students the opportunity to study in a few English speaking countries resulting in solving the complications of visa or funding.

In conclusion, there are numerous disadvantages of undergraduate study having certain jobs options or courses in foreign countries but I think, the advantages like being skilled and exploring different learning systems can certainly be more noteworthy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by providing a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You discuss both the advantages of work placements and studying abroad, while acknowledging potential disadvantages. The ideas are generally well-developed, such as the link between work experience and employability. However, the development could be more nuanced; for instance, the example regarding the 'education government of Bangladesh' is slightly unclear in its connection to the broader argument about international education. To reach a higher band, ensure that all examples directly reinforce your main points with greater precision and depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use transition signals like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some cohesive devices are used in a slightly mechanical or unnatural way, such as the phrasing 'the education government of Bangladesh'. Additionally, the punctuation error in the first paragraph (a semicolon used incorrectly before 'I believe') slightly disrupts the flow. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduate', 'employability', and 'overwhelming'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'education government' instead of 'government education policy' or 'the scope to the learners'. You also use 'freshers', which is informal for an academic essay. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, you should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and academic terminology to move into the higher bands. The range is functional but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'grants students to be experienced' (should be 'enables students to gain experience') and 'study in overseas' (should be 'study overseas'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though the misuse of the semicolon in the introduction is a notable error. You have a good grasp of sentence construction, but the frequency of minor errors in verb patterns and preposition usage prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and more accurate prepositional phrases will improve your accuracy.

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