Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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)

Studying abroad or completing a work placement can offer both advantages and disadvantages for students. I believe that studying abroad is particularly beneficial because it gives students the opportunity to gain new skills and experiences that can contribute to their future careers.

Some people argue that studying abroad has several disadvantages. It can create financial and emotional difficulties for students. For example, when a student moves to another country to study, they may need to spend a considerable amount of money on transportation, accommodation and food. Furthermore, studying abroad means being far away from family and friends. As a result, some students may feel lonely or anxious because they lack the support they normally receive from people close to them.

On the other hand, studying abroad can offer significant advantages. Students can develop their skills while experiencing a new culture. For example, some universities may provide modern equipment, advanced technology and highly qualified teachers, which can help students gain knowledge and develop useful skills. In addition, living in another country allows students to learn about different cultures and meet people from different backgrounds, helping them build new relationships and become more independent.

In conclusion, although studying abroad can cause financial and emotional difficulties, I believe that its benefits are greater. It can help students develop valuable skills, gain international experience and interact with people from different cultures.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages, and a clear position is maintained throughout. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat generic and lack the detailed development or specific examples required for a higher band. The prompt asks for a discussion on both studying abroad and work placements, but the essay focuses almost exclusively on studying abroad, neglecting the work placement aspect entirely. This omission means the task is only partially addressed.

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 the opposing viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'For example', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas, although the transitions are somewhat mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, but the lack of depth due to the short length makes the overall flow feel slightly underdeveloped. The referencing is generally clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is some use of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'financial and emotional difficulties', 'modern equipment', and 'highly qualified teachers'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on fairly common, everyday language. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, but the essay lacks the more sophisticated or precise lexical items that would demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is used correctly. There are no major errors that cause confusion for the reader. However, the range of complex structures is limited, and the writing style is somewhat repetitive in its sentence construction. To achieve a higher band, the writer should aim to incorporate a greater variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or more sophisticated relative clauses, while maintaining the current level of accuracy.

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

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