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)

There is an ongoing debate that all universities should offer their undergraduate students with opportunity to spent some time studying abroad or doing a work placement in their relevant fields. While there can be some drawbacks of this change, in my opinion advantages are far more significant. This essay will discuss the both sides before explaining why I hold this view.

On the positive side, there are numerous advantages of offering students chance to study in another country through different semester exchange programmes or work placement option. One of the major benefit is the experience students will get through those opportunities. For instance if students get to spend one or two semesters studying same course in another country. They would be able to gain valuable knowledge about the field they are studying in as well as some skills that they cannot learn in their own countries , due to lack of enough resources which are may be available elsewhere. In addition they would have chance to experience different education system and chance to meet people from different backgrounds. Moreover providing them with opportunity to do work in industry for one year can allow them to learn useful skills and experience before they actually enter the job market.

On the negative side, one of the disadvantages can be financial burden on universities. As providing such exchange programmes and placement year can cost them very high, as a result they may face shortage of funds to address issues that are more important. In addition, institutes cannot offer such chances to each student so its might unfair for students who do not get option and effect them mentally.

In conclusions, although there are some disadvantages such as financial burden. In my opinion the advantages including students gaining valuable experience and skills outweigh the drawbacks.

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, such as the benefits of gaining industry experience and the potential financial burden on institutions. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about students being affected 'mentally' due to not receiving an exchange opportunity is vague and lacks sufficient explanation or evidence. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete examples or deeper analysis to support your claims, ensuring that every point made is fully explored rather than just mentioned.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices are present, such as 'On the positive side', 'In addition', and 'Moreover', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the sentence fragment 'For instance if students get to spend one or two semesters studying same course in another country.' Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are grammatically complete will enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'exchange programmes', 'work placement', and 'job market'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'cost them very high' instead of 'are very costly' or 'expensive'. There are also minor errors in word formation, such as 'relevant fields' used correctly but in a slightly repetitive manner. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise academic vocabulary to demonstrate a wider range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles (e.g., 'the opportunity', 'the chance'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments. For example, 'For instance if students get to spend...' is a dependent clause treated as a full sentence. Additionally, there are errors like 'its might unfair' and 'are may be available'. These errors do not generally impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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