Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It is mainly argued that every university undergraduate courses should require at least one of the two, which is studying in another country or giving an oppurtunity in job placement. Although such requirement could create a financial struggle for some students, I believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because these experiences provide valuable professional skills and broaden students' perspectives.

One significant advantage of this approach is that it can improve students' employability in work life. Academic knowledge such as theories is not quite enough for undergraduate students to find job in the future. Experiences like work placement can improve their theories in practice. Gaining time management, social interactions and problem-solving skills. For example,an engineer student who completes a placement at a company can gain experience with real projects and workplace procedures that cannot be fully replicated in a university classroom. As a result, graduates with practical experience may be better prepared to enter the labour market and compete for employment.

Studying abroad can also provide substantial personal and academic benefits, although making compulsive actions can have challenges. Living in another country exposes students to different cultures, educational systems and ways of thinking, which can make them more independent and adaptable. Furthermore, students often need to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds, helping them develop interpersonal and language skills. The main disadvantage is that travelling and living abroad can be expensive, and some students may have family, financial or other circumstances that make international study difficult. However, universities could address this problem by providing scholarships, affordable exchange programmes or equivalent work placements for students who cannot travel.

In conclusion, although requiring every undergraduate student to complete a period of study abroad or work experience can create financial and mental challenges, I believe the benefits are greater. Practical experiences, learning new perspectives from different cultures can significantly improve students' preperation for future employment and adult life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, clearly stating your position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Your ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the discussion on employability and the practical benefits of work placements. The argument is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting points are fully developed; for instance, the section on studying abroad could have been slightly more detailed regarding the specific 'personal benefits' mentioned. Overall, you have provided a clear, balanced, and well-reasoned response that directly answers the question.

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 you use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, in the second paragraph, the sentence 'Gaining time management, social interactions and problem-solving skills' is a fragment that lacks a subject and verb, which slightly disrupts the logical flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring all sentences are complete would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'labour market', 'workplace procedures', and 'interpersonal skills' are used effectively. There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'oppurtunity' (opportunity) and 'compulsive actions' (which is likely a misuse of 'compulsory'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring the precise usage of academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are accurate, there are some recurring grammatical slips. For example, 'every university undergraduate courses' should be 'every university undergraduate course' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, the sentence 'Gaining time management...' is a sentence fragment. You also have minor errors such as 'find job' instead of 'find a job' and 'preperation' (preparation). Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and you demonstrate a good grasp of complex sentence construction, which is sufficient for a 6.5 band score.

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

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