Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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)

It is often argued that all undergraduate students should be required to spend a period of time studying abroad or undertaking a work placement. While this approach may have certain disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, particularly because it can provide valuable practical experience and improve students' personal and professional skills.

There are several significant advantages to this approach. The primary benefit is that students can gain practical experience. This is because students can not apply their technical skills in classroom based education. For example, computer science students can apply their technical skills on real world projects and gain experience which can help in future. As a result, graduates may be better prepared for employment.

Despite these benefits, there are also some drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that studying abroad or completing a work placement could create financial difficulties for some students. This could include the cost of accommodation, transportation and living expenses. Furthermore, students may have less time to focus on their academic studies. However, these drawbacks can be mitigated through university funding, scholarships and flexible placement arrangements.

In conclusion, although compulsory overseas study or work placements may cause financial and academic difficulties for some students, I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. This is mainly because such experiences provide practical skills, increase employability and help students become more independent. Therefore, universities should consider incorporating these opportunities into undergraduate programmes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the essay is under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the main points regarding practical experience and financial challenges are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, the argument about computer science students is a good start, but it lacks a more detailed explanation of how this specific experience translates into long-term professional success. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your examples and provide more nuanced analysis to ensure the response is fully developed.

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 theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'The primary benefit', 'Despite these benefits', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. However, the transitions between sentences could be more varied to improve the flow. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, which meets the requirements for a solid band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mitigated', 'incorporating', and 'undergraduate programmes' correctly. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to a higher band. There is some repetition of basic phrases, such as 'apply their technical skills', which appears twice in the same paragraph. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations to express your ideas with greater variety and impact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and your punctuation is generally correct. There are no major errors that impede communication. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited; you rely heavily on standard 'subject-verb-object' patterns. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as conditional sentences or more sophisticated relative clauses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already demonstrated.

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

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