Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 argued that all undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or completing a placement. While there may be some disadvantages to this idea, I believe that the benefits are considerably greater.

No doubt, there are many drawbacks. The first and foremost point which strikes in my mind is that high cost of travel many people cannot afford.

To explain it as well known that flights tickets are very expensive and living in foreign country are also expensive with but negative affects on mental health. Secondly, student feel alone in other country they cannot share responsibilities or problems to anyone that time it creates huge financial burden and take a lot of stress. Moreover, students may find difficulties to adjust in a new environment. They may face problems with the language, food, culture and lifestyle of another country. For example, a students who goes abroad for the first time may need some time to become comfortable with the new surroundings. This can affect their studies and may feel stressed.

On the other hand, worry can has its sides. many positive points going abroad first benefit they can gain practical experience through a work placement. They can learn how to deals with

other people, manage their time and solve problems in a global workplace. This experience can help them get a good job after completing their studies. Secondly, studying abroad allows students to experience a new culture and meet people from different backgrounds. They can also improve their communication and language skills. For example, students who live in another country may need to speak English everyday which can make them more confident. Moreover, living away from home can make students more independent they have to manage their own money, time and daily activities which can be useful in their future life.

In conclusion, although studying abroad or doing a work placement can have some disadvantages, I believe that the advantages outweight the disadvantages. Students can gain practical experience, improve their communication skills and become more confidence and independent.

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 financial and emotional challenges as well as professional and personal benefits. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the benefits are well-supported with examples like gaining practical experience and improving communication, the disadvantages are less thoroughly explored, relying on generalizations such as 'high cost' and 'mental health' without specific elaboration. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that both sides of the argument are developed with equal depth and specific, illustrative examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'first and foremost', 'secondly', 'moreover', and 'on the other hand' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing or missing transitions, such as the abrupt start to the second paragraph ('No doubt, there are many drawbacks'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'practical experience', 'global workplace', and 'independent'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'strikes in my mind' instead of 'comes to mind', 'worry can has its sides', and 'deals with' (should be 'deal with'). Additionally, there are minor errors in word form, such as 'more confidence' instead of 'more confident'. To improve, focus on learning collocations and ensuring that words are used in their correct grammatical form to convey your meaning more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, they are frequently marred by grammatical errors, such as 'flights tickets are very expensive and living in foreign country are also expensive with but negative affects' (should be 'effects'). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and missing articles (e.g., 'a students who goes'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are run-on sentences where clauses are not properly joined. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to proofread your work to catch these frequent, though not meaning-impeding, errors.

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

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