Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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)

Many people believe all university undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or completing a work placement. Although this may create some difficulties for students, I believe that the advantages are greater than the disadvantages.

One major advantage is that students can gain practical experience. A work placement allows undergraduates to apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations. This can help them develop important skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Moreover, having work experience before graduation can improve their chances of finding a suitable job. For example, a student studying computer science could work for a software company and gain practical experience in programming and project management.

Studying abroad also provides significant benefits. Students can experience a different culture, meet people from different backgrounds and become more independent. Living in another country can also improve their languages and communication skills. These experiences may make students more confident and adaptable in their future careers.

However, there are some disadvantages. Studying abroad can be expensive because students may have to pay for travel, accommodation and living expenses. Similarly, completing a work placement may reduce the time available for academic study. Some students may also find it difficult to adapt to anew environment.

In conclusion, although studying abroad or completing a work placement can be costly and challenging, I believe that the practical skills, independence and career opportunities gained from these experiences make the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the computer science student scenario. However, the response is 243 words, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the depth of development, as the arguments, while clear, remain somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed analysis or additional examples to ensure the word count is comfortably met and the ideas are fully explored.

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 theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Similarly', and 'In conclusion' effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices further to avoid relying on standard transition words, which would help the flow feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduates', 'adaptable', and 'practical experience' correctly. The language is generally precise and conveys your meaning well. There is a minor typo ('anew' instead of 'a new'), but this does not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations related to the topic of education and career development, as the current vocabulary is functional but lacks a degree of sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. You use complex structures, such as 'Although this may create some difficulties... I believe that...', effectively. Punctuation is generally accurate, though there is a minor spacing error in the conclusion ('costly and challenging'). The grammatical control is consistent, and errors are rare and do not interfere with the reader's understanding of your arguments.

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

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