Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, many people believe that all undergraduate students should spend some time studying abroad or completing a work placement as part of their degree. Although this requirement may create certain difficulties, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages because students can gain valuable practical experience and develop greater independence.

One major advantage of studying or working abroad is that students can develop skills that cannot always be acquired in a classroom. A work placement, for example, allows undergraduates to understand how their theoretical knowledge is applied in a real professional environment. This can make them more confident and better prepared for employment after graduation. Similarly, studying in another country exposes students to different educational methods and perspectives, which can broaden their understanding of their subject.

Another significant benefit is personal development. Living in a foreign country requires students to communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds and manage everyday responsibilities independently. As a result, they can become more adaptable, confident and open-minded. For instance, a student from India who spends a semester in the United Kingdom may have to adapt to a different academic system and interact with international students. Such experiences can improve both communication and problem-solving skills.

However, making overseas study or work placement compulsory could also have disadvantages. The most obvious concern is the financial burden. Travel, accommodation and living expenses can be expensive, particularly for students from less wealthy families. In addition, some students may have personal or academic reasons that make travelling abroad difficult. Nevertheless, universities could reduce this problem by offering scholarships, affordable exchange programmes and local work placements for students who cannot travel.

In conclusion, although compulsory overseas study or work experience may involve financial and practical challenges, I believe its benefits are greater. The opportunity to gain professional experience, become independent and understand other cultures can significantly improve students’ personal and future professional developmen

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all parts of the prompt. Your position is clear from the introduction and is maintained consistently throughout the essay. Each paragraph develops a distinct argument: practical experience, personal development, and a balanced consideration of the financial challenges. The ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of an Indian student in the UK, which adds depth to your argument. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that the counter-argument is integrated even more seamlessly into the overall flow, perhaps by acknowledging it earlier as a nuance rather than a separate paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the ideas flow naturally from one to the next. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Similarly', 'As a result', and 'In addition', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive markers to avoid relying on standard transition words, ensuring that the connection between sentences feels even more sophisticated and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases like 'theoretical knowledge', 'professional environment', and 'financial burden' are used accurately. You show an ability to use less common items, such as 'adaptable' and 'open-minded'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations or idiomatic academic expressions to demonstrate a more 'flexible' and 'sophisticated' control of language, moving beyond standard academic phrasing to more nuanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'Although this requirement may create...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There is a minor error in the final sentence where 'developmen' is cut off, but this is a minor slip. Your grammar is consistent and supports clear communication throughout the text. To achieve a higher score, ensure that you proofread carefully to avoid minor typos and continue to incorporate a wider variety of advanced grammatical structures, such as inversion or participle clauses, to demonstrate full flexibility.

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

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