Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Some people argue that governments should allocate a greater proportion of public funds to educate the students. Although maintaining a strong study is essential for protecting a country from external threats, I believe that education deserves a larger share of government expenditure because of its profound long-term economic and social benefits.

On the one hand, prioritising education can significantly contribute to a nation’s long-term prosperity. Adequate investment in schools, universities and vocational institutions enables students to acquire the knowledge and practical skills required in a rapidly changing economy. A highly educated workforce is also more likely to generate innovation, increase productivity and create employment opportunities. For example, governments that provide substantial funding for higher education and scientific research can develop a skilled workforce capable of contributing to technological advancement and economic growth. Therefore, although the benefits of educational investment may take years to become evident, they can strengthen a country’s economy and improve living standards for generations.

On the other hand, defence expenditure plays an indispensable role in maintaining national security and political stability. Every government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, territory and critical infrastructure from military aggression and other security threats. In addition, armed forces can provide valuable support during natural disasters and other national emergencies by conducting rescue operations and delivering essential supplies. For instance, military personnel may be deployed after major earthquakes or floods when civilian emergency services are overwhelmed. Consequently, reducing defence spending excessively could leave a country vulnerable, particularly when it faces significant security risks.

In conclusion, defence spending is indispensable because national security is a fundamental responsibility of any government. Nevertheless, I strongly believe that education should receive a larger proportion of public expenditure because a well-educated population strengthens economic productivity, innovation and social development. The most sensible approach, therefore, is to prioritise education while maintaining sufficient defence funding to protect the nation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for an opinion on whether university students should be required to study abroad or do a work placement. However, the essay discusses whether governments should spend more on education or defence. Because the student failed to address the specific prompt provided, the task achievement score is severely impacted. While the essay itself is well-structured and logical, it does not answer the question asked, which is the primary requirement of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Despite being off-topic, the essay demonstrates a high level of coherence and cohesion. The text is logically organised into clear paragraphs with a consistent progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The introduction and conclusion are well-defined, and the overall structure is professional and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise, demonstrating a wide range of academic language. Phrases such as 'profound long-term economic and social benefits', 'indispensable role', and 'civilian emergency services are overwhelmed' show a strong command of lexical items. The word choice is natural and appropriate for an academic context, with no significant errors in collocation or spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures with high accuracy. The use of conditional sentences, relative clauses, and varied sentence beginnings is excellent. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex sentence forms is consistent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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