Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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, methods of education is a broader concept than it used to be and it has become indispensable to adapt the curriculum as per the requirements of modern world. I believe that all the universities undergraduate courses should include a certain period of time where students learn various concepts abroad or do a work placements and advantages of this practice would be more than its disadvantages.

Firstly, this approach of studying abroad will provide undergraduate a wider scope of learning and gaining experience which they may never experience in their hometown.For instance, a group of students sent abroad for 2 months, initially they were struggling to settle and facing some difficulties as they were by their own and need to figure out everything by themselves but once they settled, they started liking their new environment which help them develop various skills such as adapting to changes and improved problem solving and also started finding education an interesting aspect. In contrast, if students are not sent for abroad studies they can have comfortable learning throughout their program but may face lack of certain experience resulting in their loss.

Secondly, most of the students are fond a comfort zone and there is pivotal need for getting out of this comfortable environment can contribute to their self-development which will provide them to greater opportunities in life.For example, a group of students sent abroad for work placement, adapting to new environment and encountering certain bad situations which were tough to deal with, help them increase self-confidence and also contributed to a strong personality. A drawback is that all this process is quite expensive and because of this reason people may not initiate to step forward.However, building a great personality and lifetime experience is worth more than certain cost involved.

In conclusion, this process involves huge costs and getting out of comfort zone but in turn the benefits received are necessary and worth all the hard work and time involved.

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 and supported by examples, such as the benefits of independence and self-development. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive, and the examples are generalized rather than specific. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more nuanced arguments and ensure that the counter-argument regarding costs is balanced more thoroughly against the benefits. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis could be improved to fully explore the implications of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In contrast', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are instances where referencing is a bit unclear, such as the vague mention of 'a group of students' without context. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some relevant academic phrases like 'indispensable', 'pivotal need', and 'self-development'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fond a comfort zone' (should be 'fond of') and 'people may not initiate to step forward' (should be 'hesitate to'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient but lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would help improve your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('methods of education is') and preposition usage ('sent for abroad studies'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'they were by their own'. While you attempt complex structures, they are not always error-free. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and refining your use of articles and prepositions. Increasing the number of error-free sentences will significantly boost your score.

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.