Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03
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)
I believe that the advantages of institution providing avenue for undergraduates students to travel abroad to further there studies for a period of time or undergoing work placement. In this essays, I would give reasons that shows how beneficial it would be for students rather than looking at the cost implication to carry out this assignment.
One of the merits would be how beneficial it would for students who underwent these assignment in terms of experience. Education can't be completely acquired from reading textbooks and writing examination. Engaging in travels and learning from people already in your field of study will be more helpful for the student at the end of his or her studies. Another advantage is most job placement comes with a pay. Students needs funding for their education and more particularly in writing their thesis. A huge amount of funds are required to conduct research. By engaging in work placement, students can secure the necessary funds needed and also there is every chance that those students will be giving job offer in the same establishment where these exercise was carried out when the complete their studies. In addition, travel abroad provide opportunity for students to network, which will be beneficial for them in the future or at the completion of their studies. For instance, colleagues and co-workers that students met during their time abroad could be of relevant help when the students start practicing his or her profession.
In conclusion, although engaging in these extra curricular activities can be costly for students to afford, its benefits are more valuable due to the relevant experience gathered and opportunity to network and meet professional in their field of study that will be relevant for the student in the future.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages of studying abroad or work placements. However, the position is not fully developed. While you mention that the benefits outweigh the costs, the discussion of the 'disadvantages' is limited to a brief mention in the introduction and conclusion, rather than a balanced exploration. The ideas, such as networking and funding, are relevant but could be extended with more specific examples. To reach a higher band, ensure that you provide a more thorough analysis of the counter-arguments to demonstrate a more sophisticated understanding of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'In conclusion' to link ideas. However, the progression of ideas is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly disjointed. For example, the transition between the benefits of experience and the financial benefits could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the use of 'these exercise' in the second paragraph, which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'undergraduates', 'implication', and 'professional'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'institution providing avenue' and 'these exercise was carried out'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that your word forms (singular/plural) are consistent with the context of your sentences.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('Students needs funding', 'travel abroad provide opportunity') and verb tense consistency ('these exercise was carried out when the complete their studies'). While these errors are noticeable, they rarely prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. To achieve a higher score, you should proofread your work specifically for basic grammatical accuracy, focusing on pluralization and verb tense agreement, which are currently the most frequent sources of error.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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