Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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)

University graduate courses should consist of work opportunities and exchange programs in other countries for students. I believe the disadvantages of programs including work placement and studying abroad opportunities outweigh disadvantages because of logistics, time constraint and high cost.

The advantages of having such prospect is personal growth as it provides you a different environment than what an educational setting fosters. Students with internship, job experience during their studies gain practical skills required in their field with an understanding of how corporate world works. Studying in foreign countries foster personal growth by understanding how global world works with different system which allows students to be more adaptable.

Downside of such activities involved during the course puts a pressure on students and university due to different factors like logistics, time strain and high costs. Studying abroad is expensive due to traveling, living costs and tuition fees which would be difficult for many students because of the falling economy in most countries. Undergraduate courses have a duration of 3 to 4 years which puts a time constraint on these activities for students with different schedules. University arranging facilities like exchange programs or work placement has a logistics cost because in a class there might be 20-50 students and arranging such opportunities is hard for each student.

In conclusion, prospects like studying abroad and work opportunities has its benefits regarding personal growth and practical skills but because of problems like logistics and cost make it impossible for each student to have such opportunities even if universities offer scholarships, they are not possible for every student.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout, arguing that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention personal growth and practical skills, the discussion of the disadvantages—logistics, time, and cost—is more detailed. To improve, ensure that the advantages are given equal weight and depth. For instance, you could provide a specific example of how an internship directly impacts employability. The conclusion is clear, but ensure that your main arguments are fully synthesised rather than just restated. Overall, the response is relevant and stays on topic, meeting the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. For example, the transition between the advantages and disadvantages could be smoother. While you use some linking words like 'In conclusion' and 'Downside of such activities', the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'nevertheless') to better connect your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, which helps the reader navigate your points.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'logistics', 'internship', and 'adaptable'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation that limit the score. For example, 'global world' is redundant, and 'different system' should be pluralized. Additionally, phrases like 'downside of such activities involved' are slightly awkward. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'prospects... has its benefits') and missing articles (e.g., 'how corporate world works'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors that occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with pluralisation and article usage. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help elevate your score in this criterion.

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

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