Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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)

In the present age, job market is getting saturated which makes it tough to get employed for a person underexperienced or unskilled. To counter this problem university courses should let there students study at a new country or add work placements. This essay will evaluate the advantages to the disadvantages of this and personally i think this is an advantage.

Firstly, having some practical experience of managing studies and living away from your hometown is valuable in your career because employers are going to be impressed by the work ethic as the student will be more responsible, efficient and settled which being on your own teaches. Another pro is that students can really focus on there skills in the long term as they do not need to worry about finding work in there school, although its does not fully assure that everyone gets employed but just the thought of a work placement assisted by the university is a relief in itself. For example, if i have work placement fares every 3 months at university it would motivate me to study harder and try to get a placement during my schooling.

On the the hand, the cons to this can also be that this institution might suffer financially from the scholarships for students going abroad. Students will become more lethargic as they will not compete for a better career as everything is being provided by the university. For example, after graduation the student can go abroad or work and these two are being offered by the university because of this certainty the students will not be motivated to work hard and this will lead to being average.

In summary, there are some cons of addition of these facilities but pros are much highe

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention benefits like work ethic and skill focus, the arguments are not fully extended with concrete evidence. For instance, the example regarding 'work placement fares' is slightly unclear and does not strongly support the argument about long-term skill development. The counter-argument regarding financial strain and student lethargy is relevant but could be more deeply explored to show a sophisticated understanding of the topic. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a clear, logical explanation and a more detailed example.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Another pro', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the connection between the university offering opportunities and student motivation could be more explicitly linked. Paragraphing is present, but the conclusion is abrupt and incomplete, which affects the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You attempt some topic-specific vocabulary like 'saturated', 'work ethic', and 'lethargic'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'let there students' (should be 'their') and 'work placement fares' (likely meaning 'fairs'). The range is somewhat limited, and there is a lack of more sophisticated or academic collocations that would elevate the response. Focusing on accurate spelling and using more precise academic terminology will help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'job market is getting saturated' (missing article), 'at a new country' (should be 'in'), and 'there skills' (should be 'their'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often marred by these errors. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct use of articles, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately without losing clarity.

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.