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 often argues that all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. Although this may create difficulties, yet I believe that the advantages of this approach outweigh its disadvantages.

One major advantage is that students can develop practical skills and gain real world experience, University study is all about theoretical knowledge, whereas work placement allows students to apply what they have learned in actual workplaces. For example, a physical therapy students could spend several hours in a hospital where they can learn how to communicate with patients and work as a healthcare professional. This can build confidence and strong practical skills in students.

Another significant benefit is that living abroad can improve student's communication and cultural awareness. Students can get to learn new cultural, their norms and values, and get a exposure to cultural diversity. Students get to interact with people of different countries, learn about their foreign languages and tradition. As a result, they develop autonomy, become more confident and adaptable. For instance, a Pakistani student studying in the UK may develop stronger communication skills including listening and speaking, and also learn about British culture.

However, there are some disadvantages too. As studying or working abroad can be expensive, particularly for students from low income families. In addition, some students may experience homesickness. Nevertheless, universities can reduce these problems by providing scholarships, friendly ambiance and affordable accommodation.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that benefits are greater than the drawbacks. Despite of having financial difficulties and adaptability issues, the practical experience, independency and cultural awareness are significantly important to improve student's future and career prospects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt and maintained a clear position throughout the essay. Your ideas are relevant, particularly the focus on practical skills and cultural awareness. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the example of the physical therapy student is good, but the explanation of the disadvantages is a bit brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning or broader implications. Your conclusion effectively summarizes your stance, though it could be more nuanced to reflect the complexity of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'Another significant benefit', and 'However' to guide the reader through your arguments. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions are slightly mechanical. Additionally, there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'get to learn new cultural, their norms' where the pronoun usage is slightly awkward. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the progression of ideas is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge', 'cultural awareness', and 'career prospects'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'get a exposure' (should be 'gain exposure') and 'independency' (the more common term is 'independence'). While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, some word choices are slightly imprecise. To improve, focus on collocations and ensuring that your vocabulary usage is consistently natural and precise throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'It is often argues' should be 'It is often argued', and 'Despite of having' is incorrect (it should be 'Despite having' or 'In spite of having'). There are also minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'a physical therapy students' (should be 'a physical therapy student'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do prevent the essay from reaching a higher band for accuracy.

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

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