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)

It's argued that all undergraduate courses of the universities should include a phase in which the students are sent abroad for learning or are allowed to work. While there are definitely some downsides for this but I personally believe that the advantages of this definitely outweigh the disadvantages and in this essay I'll provide reasons to support this opinion.

The disadvantages of this include students spending a lot of time studying abroad in which they could have covered some of their primary courses in their local university. Studying overseas delays the overall course completion time which can have some negative impacts on their future endeavors. Similarly, taking a break from studying to work can distract the students from their education as many students abandon their courses and start pursuing a career before completing their education which is a serious problem for their intellectual growth.

On the other hand, it has many upsides. For instance, doing a work placement can help you gain hands on experience in your particular fields of study. A research shows that the students who do internships during their university courses have a significantly higher chance of landing a job after their degrees then those who haven't worked at all since it boosts your connections and equips you with practical skills. Same can be said about studying abroad as it exposes you to a completely different environment where you make new connections and experience different teaching methods.

To conclude, while there are some downsides to studying abroad and working during university courses, there are some great advantages which outweigh them. Students gain practical experience in their field, make new contacts and experience different culture and teaching practices.

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, covering both the potential drawbacks (delayed graduation, distraction) and the benefits (practical experience, networking). However, the development of these ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the point about 'intellectual growth' is mentioned but not fully explored. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis of how these experiences translate into long-term career success. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main arguments.

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. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'To conclude' are used effectively to guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother, and some referencing is slightly repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear, making the essay easy to follow. Overall, the structure is sound, though more varied cohesive links would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. You use some good collocations like 'hands-on experience', 'future endeavors', and 'practical skills'. However, there are some instances of slightly imprecise word choice, such as 'a research shows' (research is uncountable) and 'then those' (should be 'than'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and variety of less common lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. Focusing on more precise academic terminology would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'It's argued that all undergraduate courses of the universities' is slightly awkward; 'university undergraduate courses' would be more natural. There are also minor errors in article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'A research shows'. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, while ensuring higher accuracy in your basic sentence construction.

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

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