Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent years, there has been increasing discussion about whether all the undergraduate university courses should include a period of studying abroad or a work placement. Although this policy could create some difficulties for students and universities, I believe that the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

one major advantage is that students can gain valuable practical experience. University education mainly provides theoretical knowledge, whereas a work placement allows students to apply what they have studied in real working environment. They can improve important skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management. Moreover, the students who have work experience are likely to have better employment opportunities after graduation because employers often prefer candidates who understands how workplaces operate.

Studying abroad can also provide significant personal benefits. Living in another country exposes students to different cultures, languages and ways of thinking. As result they become independent, confident and adaptable. For instance, a student who spends several months in a foreign university may have to communicate with people from different backgrounds and manage daily responsibilities without relying heavily on family members.

However, there are some disadvantages to this policy. Studying abroad maybe expensive because the students have to pay for accommodation, travel and living expenses. In addition some students may experience homesickness and difficulty adapting different culture. Work placements can also be challenging to arrange, especially for courses where suitable companies are limited.

Nevertheless, universities could reduce these problems by providing financial assistance and offering local work placements as an alternative for them.

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. You provided relevant arguments for both sides, such as practical experience and personal development, while acknowledging the challenges of cost and logistics. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more specific. For instance, instead of a general mention of 'a student', you could briefly describe a specific field of study or a hypothetical scenario to add depth. Your ideas are relevant and well-structured, providing a clear progression of thought that directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

Your essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Moreover', 'For instance', and 'However', to transition between ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. To improve, ensure that your referencing is always precise; for example, in the final paragraph, the phrase 'as an alternative for them' is slightly ambiguous as it is unclear if 'them' refers to the students or the problems. Overall, the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge', 'employment opportunities', and 'adaptable'. You attempt some less common vocabulary, which is generally used correctly. However, there are minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'adapting different culture' (should be 'adapting to a different culture') and 'maybe expensive' (should be 'may be expensive'). To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and idiomatic expressions to show greater flexibility and precision in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. While the majority of your sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'candidates who understands' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'As result' (missing article 'a'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and capitalization errors, such as starting a sentence with 'one' instead of 'One'. Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures will help improve your score.

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

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