Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14

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)

Education has been regarded as the basic need of humans. Undergraduate curriculum in all universities should include a period of studying abroad or work placement. With considerable competition in every field of life, employment is a major goal in modern society. However, different perspectives exist on this matter, I firmly believe that adopting a balanced and sustainable approach is essential for achieving the maximum benefits for the betterment of our youth.

On the one hand, supporters of adding a extra period in syllabus for studying abroad or work placement argue that a proper road map for the youth is a very helpful in achieving their life goals. This lecture will not only open the doors for employments but also brings national prosperity. Moreover, we can easily cope with the competitive world by proper upbringing of our undergraduates. Consequently, our youth will gain worldwide skills and knowledge by studying abroad.

On the other hand, advocates of disadvantages contend that study hours will increase. So, students will exhaust by so long study hours as there is no need of these activities at undergraduate stage. In their view, mostly students do not need jobs and they want to prsue their higher studies.

In conclusion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I remaine convinced that a extra lecture for studying abroad or doing work placement is the most practical solution for current unemployment and financial dependency on single bread earner of home. There should be strict implementation of this period in all universities for both national and international success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding 'national prosperity' and 'worldwide skills' is mentioned but not sufficiently explained or supported with concrete examples. The counter-argument regarding the increased study load is also quite brief. To achieve a higher band, you should expand on your points with specific illustrations or logical reasoning rather than relying on general statements. The conclusion restates your position, but the reference to 'financial dependency on single bread earner' introduces a new idea that was not previously discussed, which is not ideal for a conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', to signal the structure. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'This lecture will not only open the doors...' is slightly confusing as it refers back to 'a proper road map' rather than the study abroad program itself. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing is precise will help improve the cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'curriculum', 'prosperity', and 'advocates'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, you use 'a extra period' (should be 'an extra') and 'mostly students' (should be 'most students'). Additionally, the phrase 'advocates of disadvantages' is not standard English; it would be better to say 'those who highlight the disadvantages'. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, you need to use less common lexical items more accurately to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'a very helpful in achieving' (should be 'very helpful in achieving'), 'students will exhaust' (should be 'students will be exhausted'), and 'remaine' (spelling error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main points, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and proofreading for minor spelling slips.

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.