Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Many people argue that universities should make it compulsory for all undergraduates to spend time studying abroad or doing a work placement. While this policy might cause financial and personal stress for some students, I strongly believe that the long-term career gains and life experience make it well worth it. And i will give my opinions about it in this essay.

On the downside, making these placements mandatory can be a real headache for some students. However, the biggest issue is money, Moving to another country or paying for housing near an internship location gets expensive very quickly. For students on a tight budget, these extra costs for rent, travel, and daily living can cause serious financial strain unless the university helps out. On top of that, adding a placement year can extend how long it takes to finish a degree, which means delaying full-time employment and taking on extra academic pressure.

Despite these drawbacks, the benefits of getting out into the real world far outweigh the downsides. For one, actual work experience fills the gaps that lectures simply can't cover. Learning theory in a classroom is great, but handling real-world projects helps students pick up practical skills like teamwork, problem solving, and workplace communication. These hand-on skills make graduates stand out when applying for jobs. Similarly, studying in a foreign country pushes students out of their comfort zone, teaching them how to adapt to new cultures and become more independent, traits that almost every employer values today.

In conclution, although compulsory work placements or study-abroad programs can bring financial and logistical challenges, these problems are usually short-lived. The real-world confidence, career edge, and personal growth students gain from these experiences are far more valuable in the long run.

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 well-developed, with the student providing specific reasons for both the drawbacks (financial and logistical strain) and the benefits (practical skills and personal growth). The argument is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific examples or evidence, such as referencing a particular type of industry or a specific skill set gained from a work placement, to further strengthen the depth of the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the downside', 'However', 'Despite these drawbacks', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the opposing viewpoints. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses some effective collocations like 'financial strain', 'academic pressure', and 'full-time employment'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on slightly informal phrasing such as 'real headache' and 'gets expensive'. To achieve a higher band, the student should aim for more sophisticated, academic vocabulary and demonstrate a more precise control over word choice to avoid colloquialisms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is generally good control over grammar, and the meaning is never obscured by errors. However, there are a few minor slips, such as the lowercase 'i' in the introduction and the spelling error 'conclution' in the final paragraph. While the punctuation is mostly accurate, the sentence structure could be further varied to demonstrate more flexibility. The majority of the sentences are error-free, which supports a solid score in this criterion.

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

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