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)

I do agree with the fact that all universities should allow students to choose between as what we call it in Europe, an Erasmus or an internship. Each of those possibilities given have advantages that far outweigh the disadvantages. An internship or an Erasmus permit the students to either gain experience or discover an other culture, which would not be possible while sitting in the auditorium. The only disadvantages that I can pinpoint would be the financial costs from the Erasmus and the internship.

An Erasmus could really be beneficial to fall in love with an other culture, such as its language, the way people speak, dress, etc. Moreover, in some specific fields, such as law, it brings a new point of view how culture shapes the laws that are being made. As for the negative, the financial cost, it should not be that bad, considering that most of the times, Erasmus is cheaper overall. Even renting a place is not that costly since you can split the amount you owe to the landlord with other students that will be with you on the Erasmus. Also, it could be possible that the food there is cheaper, reducing the cost of living.

As for the internship, the experience you gain is invaluable. Speaking from experience, in law school, grades even tho they're important, if you did an internship to a law firm it would be a nice detail to add to your curriculum vitae. Even more so when the law firm is ranked highly. Having experience adds way more value than just having good grades, it shows that you can work with people from different horizons and communicate well. Also the internship could translate in the future to a job offer. The only downside that I can find is you have to use money to get to the place where the internship is held. But this argument is weak since, you could commute by train which is really cheap is most countries.

To conclude, from the culture enrichment to the experience that you could gain from those two options, it is a no brainer that they outweigh the disadvantage listed, the financial cost.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, focusing on cultural enrichment and professional development. However, the development is somewhat uneven; while the points are clear, they could be extended with more depth. For instance, the discussion on financial costs is a bit simplistic, focusing primarily on personal budgeting rather than institutional or systemic implications. The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that arguments are explored with more analytical depth rather than just listing benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main themes: Erasmus and internships. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'As for', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the benefits of internships and the counter-argument regarding travel costs is a bit abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the essay is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'invaluable', 'curriculum vitae', and 'enrichment'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'translate in the future to a job offer' (should be 'translate into') and 'no brainer' (which is too informal for an academic essay). The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but more precise and academic vocabulary would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'an other culture' (should be 'another'), 'most of the times' (should be 'most of the time'), and 'grades even tho they're important' (informal 'tho' and awkward phrasing). Punctuation is occasionally erratic, particularly with comma usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy would be beneficial.

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

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