Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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)

It is often argued that all university undergraduate courses must include a schedule for international experience such as study abroad or job placements. I firmly believe that the advantages of international exposure outweigh the disadvantages; therefore, this essay will emphasise the merits and conclude with my perspective.

To begin with, the positive side of developing a curriculum which incorporates time for study abroad programmes has multiple benefits such as enhancing better communication skills and improving multicultural insights among students. The reason for this is undergraduate students are given the opportunity to explore different sectors and learn varying methods of education from different parts of the world, which helps create professional connections for real-world jobs.

Notwithstanding this, children with abroad work experience are given more preference and higher salary packages compared to those who do not have international experience. For instance, upcoming colleges have started collaborating with international universities to develop study-abroad programmes to enhance more opportunities for younger generations. This is mainly because young adults are getting better chances to evoke their skills and step into interesting career paths with the knowledge imparted from international professors. In addition, multiple research studies have shown that students with international exposure have better knowledge of managing finances and independent living. Additionally, teenagers and young adults have started developing better cooking skills and the ability to manage hurdles of life by themselves, as living alone creates a chance to step out of their comfort zone.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the advantages of including a period of time studying abroad or doing a work placement for university undergraduate courses outweigh the disadvantages. This is mainly because, it creates an opportunity for students to improve communication skills, multicultural insights and better job prospects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly addressed the prompt and maintained a consistent position throughout the essay. You identified the advantages well, such as professional networking and personal development. However, the task asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and you have largely ignored the 'disadvantages' side of the argument. To reach a higher band, you should acknowledge potential drawbacks—such as the financial burden or the stress of living in a foreign country—and then explain why the benefits are more significant. This would provide a more balanced and comprehensive discussion, demonstrating a deeper engagement with the complexity of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Notwithstanding this', and 'In addition' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. For instance, the transition 'Notwithstanding this' is used to introduce a paragraph that actually supports the previous point rather than contrasting it. Improving the precision of your linking words will help the flow of your ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme, which helps the reader follow your argument easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, using terms like 'multicultural insights', 'professional connections', and 'comfort zone'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'upcoming colleges' (which likely means 'modern' or 'progressive' universities) and 'evoke their skills' (where 'enhance' or 'develop' would be more accurate). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from reaching a higher level of precision. To improve, focus on collocations and ensuring that words are used in their most natural context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'children with abroad work experience' (where 'students' would be more appropriate than 'children' in a university context) and minor punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma in the final sentence: 'This is mainly because, it creates...'. Despite these, your meaning is always clear, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, while ensuring they remain error-free.

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

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