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)

Nowadays, many people believe that undergraduate students should spend some time studying abroad or completing a work placement during their degree. I believe that the benefits of this approach outweigh the drawbacks because it improves practical skills and increase future career opportunities, which will discuss in the upcoming paragraphs.

One of the major disadvantage is that some students may face financial difficulties or homesickness, these challenges are usually temporary and can be reduced through scholarships or university support. Therefore, the long-term benefits are far greater than these short-term term problems. For examples, students from low-income families may find these programmers too expensive. Which will provide financial burden on family members.

There are many advantages of studying abroad, Firstly, it provides practical skills and employability. It allows students to gain practical knowledge that cannot be learned in a classroom. They can apply theoretical concepts in real-life situations, which improve problem-solving abilities, and develop communication and teamwork skills. As a result, they become more confident and better prepared for their future careers. For instance, nursing students who complete hospital placements learn how to care for patients, communicate with healthcare professionals, and handle emergencies, making them more employable after graduation. In addition, students expose to different cultures, teaching methods, and languages. This broadens their perspective, helps them become more independent, and improves their adaptability.

In conclude, although studying abroad or completing a work placement may involve certain challenges, the benefits of gaining practical experience, developing valuable life skills, and improving career prospects clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, particularly the discussion on practical skills and employability. However, the development of the disadvantages is somewhat superficial; for example, the mention of 'financial burden' is brief and could have been expanded with more specific examples or a deeper analysis of how universities might mitigate these issues. The essay maintains a clear position throughout, but the depth of argument is slightly uneven, which prevents it from reaching the higher bands. Overall, the task is addressed adequately with a logical flow of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'For instance', and 'In addition' are used to link sentences and ideas. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion; for example, the phrase 'which will discuss in the upcoming paragraphs' is grammatically awkward and slightly mechanical. Additionally, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Despite these minor flaws, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'theoretical concepts', 'employability', and 'adaptability'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'provide financial burden' (should be 'place a financial burden') and 'students expose to' (should be 'students are exposed to'). There is also a minor repetition of the word 'practical'. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, the lack of more sophisticated or varied vocabulary limits the score to a 6.0.

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 several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'One of the major disadvantage' (should be 'disadvantages'), 'Which will provide' (a sentence fragment), and 'In conclude' (should be 'In conclusion'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not significantly impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, sentence boundaries, and correct prepositional usage. The control of grammar is consistent with a 6.0 band level.

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

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