Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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, degrees and skills are both important. If a student has a degree in Software Management and doesn't have enough experience to do their job well, it can be difficult for them to succeed. For this reason, universities give students a chance to work in their own companies for experience or go abroad. In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I will explain both views and also give my opinion in the end.

If university undergraduate courses include a period for students to spend time studying abroad or doing a work placement, there are several benefits of this situation. First is that students can gain practical experience by working in a real company because skills and experience are both important. Also, they can learn how to communicate with colleagues and how to solve problems. For instance, a Business Management student working in a company for six months can learn how to deal with customers and how to make a profit. The second advantage of studying abroad is that students develop new skills. The first skill they develop is communication with different types of people. For example, a student who is studying in the UK and talks with their fellows can become more confident when speaking English.

There are also several disadvantages. The first one is money. If a university allows students to work abroad, students have to pay for tickets, accommodation and other expenses, so a middle-class student may not be able to afford these expenses. The second one is that some students do not have experience living abroad. They may have difficulties earning money and meeting their expenses while studying at university. For instance, if a student works and studies in the UK, they may have to work harder because the university fees are higher than in our country. The main cause is that they may not focus on their studies, and their goal may not be achieved.

In my opinion, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because many students have a dream of studying abroad. On the other hand, studying in other countries can provide better opportunities than studying in our country, and students can get both qualifications and experience. Also, students can gain work experience and develop their new skills.

In conclusion, international study and work experience can be very useful for university students. I believe that the benefits of these opportunities are greater than the drawbacks

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, such as gaining practical experience and developing communication skills. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; for instance, the benefits of work experience are mentioned in both the second and fourth paragraphs. While the arguments are clear, they could be more deeply explored with more sophisticated examples. The conclusion effectively summarizes the position, but the overall development remains at a standard level, lacking the depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as the benefits of work experience or the financial disadvantages. Cohesive devices like 'First', 'Also', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the transition between ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more varied. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, though the link between the introduction and the body could be smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'practical experience', 'accommodation', and 'qualifications'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'a middle-class student may not be able to afford these expenses' (while clear, 'financial constraints' might be more academic). There are no significant spelling errors, but the vocabulary lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and most sentences are error-free. However, the range of complex structures is limited. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'develop their new skills' (where 'new' is redundant) and some slightly awkward phrasing in the discussion of financial difficulties. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, the student should incorporate a wider variety of subordinate clauses and more advanced grammatical forms.

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