Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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)

Nowadays, some people believe that university students should spend some time studying abroad or doing a work placement. I think this idea has both advantages and disadvantages, but the advantages are more important.

One main advantage of this is that students can get work experience. At university, students learn many things from books and teachers but they do not always get a chance to use this knowledge. For example, a computer science student can work in an IT company and learn about real problems. It can help students to understand their future job and also give them more confidence.

Another good point is that students can learn about other countries. If students study abroad, they can meet new people and know about different cultures. They can also improve their communication skills. For example, when a student live in another country they have to communicate with different people and manage their daily life. This can make them more independent.

However, there are some disadvantages too. Studying abroad can cost a lot of money because students need to pay for travel, accommodation and food. Also some students may feel lonely because they are away from their family. A work placement can also take some time from their university studies, so students may have less time for their normal classes.

In conclusion, there are some disadvantages of studying abroad or doing a work placement, especially the cost and less time for studies. However, I think the advantages are greater because students can get practical experience, learn about other cultures and become more independent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, covering practical work experience, cultural exposure, and the counter-arguments of cost and time. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat basic. While the examples provided (e.g., computer science students) are relevant, they are not fully extended to demonstrate a deeper analysis of the long-term impact of these experiences. To reach a higher band, the student should provide more nuanced arguments or explore the implications of these experiences more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as work experience or cultural benefits. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'One main advantage', 'Another good point', and 'However', which help the reader follow the argument. However, the transitions between some sentences are slightly repetitive or mechanical. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly within paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows the student to express their ideas clearly. There is some use of topic-specific vocabulary like 'work placement', 'accommodation', and 'practical experience'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and the student relies on relatively simple word choices throughout. There is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a broader lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'when a student live' (should be 'lives') and 'take some time from their university studies' (a slightly unnatural collocation). While the student attempts complex sentences, the control is not always consistent. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication, which is consistent with the Band 6 descriptor.

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

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