Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 widely argued that all university undergraduate courses must include time duration in abroad or have a job placement while studying. Although studying in a foreign environment has certain significant drawbacks, it also give rise to substantial benefits. This essay will discuss the advantages of time spent in foreign country or job placements, while studying., highlighting how the advantages outweigh the drawbacks with reasoned justifications.

On the one hand, proponents of studying and working abroad while studying argue that learning and practicing result in increased productivity. Individuals who work and study abroad, get the opportunity to work their skills in an international environment. This helps to put their hard work and show their talents. In addition to this, working alone in a new environment also help in developing resilience and integrity. For instance, students studying and working abroad do not rely on anyone as there is no one to support them. This infuses the sense of determination and self-reliance. On the other hand, individuals working in their hometowns, are unable to discover new things and get a foreign exposure, resulting in discovering new talents and endeavors. Also working with groups of different abilities enhance inclusivity and cultural exchange among different individuals. Moreover, students gaining foreign experience are able to bring the experience in its own country, resulting in the elimination of poverty and prejudices

Another noteworthy benefit is that learning in abroad kelp in creating stronger bonds overseas. Individuals who study and work abroad get the golden chance to meet higher- levels and experts. These students get a chance to thrive both personally as well as professionally, which also enables to enhance his interpersonal skills.

However, there are certain disadvantages of this trend. Sometimes working in a new environment with diverse backgrounds result in the increase of overwhelming situations, disenabling individuals to share their emotions. In some cases this type of feeling may result in reduced mental wellness and stress, and may even lead to serious consequences. Furthermore some students are unable to significantly bring work-life balance, thus resulting in negative outcomes.

In conclusion, although the trend of spending time outside the country while studying may be tedious and challenging, to some individuals, its advantages in terms of recognition and experience far outweigh the disadvantages. It is therefore advisable that school authorities must include training of learning time in their curriculum in order to reap better results in future.

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 and generally well-supported, such as the discussion on resilience and cultural exchange. However, some arguments are slightly under-developed or repetitive, such as the point about 'eliminating poverty,' which lacks a clear logical link to studying abroad. The conclusion is clear and reinforces the main argument. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explained with more concrete examples rather than general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different themes. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'In addition to this,' and 'However' are used to guide the reader. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical, and some referencing is a bit awkward, such as 'bring the experience in its own country.' Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'resilience,' 'integrity,' and 'interpersonal skills.' However, there are several word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'time duration in abroad' (should be 'time abroad'), 'work their skills' (should be 'hone their skills'), and 'disenabling' (should be 'preventing' or 'hindering'). These errors do not impede communication but indicate a need for more precise vocabulary usage and better awareness of natural English collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the writer attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'it also give rise to,' 'environment also help') and preposition usage (e.g., 'learning in abroad'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some unnecessary commas, such as after 'studying.' The errors are noticeable but rarely prevent the reader from understanding the intended meaning. Increasing the accuracy of basic grammatical structures will help improve the score.

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