Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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)

Many people argue that it should be mandatory for all undergraduate students to spend part of their degree studying abroad or completing a work placement. This development presents both opportunities and challenges although his proposal has some drawbacks. I believe that the advantages of gaining international and practical experience for outweigh the disadvantages. Perhaps the most significant benefits is that study abroad makes students independent, confident, and culturally aware. Work placement gives real world experience and improves soft skills. A further noteworthy advantage is Pakistani student doing exchange in UK learns new teaching methods and becomes more open minded. International experience and work experience makes CV strong. Employers prefer graduates with global exposure. Students build professional network and improve language skills. Graduates with internship at multinational companies get jobs faster. Despite these merits, several drawbacks cannot be overlooked costly for students, family separation, and some courses may get delayed. But universities can provide scholarships. And the long term career benefits are much bigger than short term costs. The most obvious one is the financial burden. Studying abroad or relocating for a work placement can be very expensive, and not all students or their families can afford tuition fees, travel costs, and accommodation. In addition, students may experience homesickness and academic disruption. Furthermore, as moving to new country or workplace can make it difficult to focus on studies. Overall, the positive implications appear to surpass the negative ones despite financial and emotional challenges, the advantages of global exposure and work experience clearly outweigh the disadvantages. Therefore universities should include it .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. You have identified both the advantages and disadvantages, ultimately arguing that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you list several benefits, such as independence and professional networking, some points are presented as fragmented notes rather than fully extended arguments. For example, the mention of 'Pakistani student doing exchange in UK' is a specific example, but it lacks sufficient context to fully support the broader argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is developed into a complete, cohesive paragraph with clear supporting evidence rather than listing ideas in quick succession.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into a logical structure, moving from the introduction to the benefits, then the drawbacks, and finally the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally lacking. There are instances where sentences feel disjointed, such as the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks. Furthermore, the paragraphing is not fully utilized; the entire body of the essay is essentially one large block, which hinders the flow. Using clear topic sentences and a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') would significantly improve the logical progression and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'culturally aware', 'multinational companies', and 'academic disruption'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of repetitive phrasing. Some word choices are slightly imprecise, such as 'makes CV strong' instead of 'enhances a CV's appeal'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and academic vocabulary. For instance, instead of saying 'the advantages are much bigger', you could use 'the advantages far outweigh the costs'. Expanding your repertoire of topic-specific vocabulary will help you convey your ideas with greater precision and nuance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'moving to new country'), subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'International experience and work experience makes'), and punctuation inconsistencies. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are noticeable throughout the text. To achieve a higher band, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with articles and verb agreement. Additionally, try to vary your sentence structure by using more complex subordinating clauses to demonstrate better control over your writing.

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