Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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 7.0)

There should be a dedicated time period allowing students to obtain a foreign education or complete a work placement during all the undergraduate university courses. I contend that the advantages of this greatly outweigh the disadvantages because providing a specific time for studying in a different country or doing a job placement can greatly advance social and leadership skills, as well as contributing to personal and professional development, while the students navigate their university courses.

Useful skill development in scholars is one of the main goals of a university degree. They can include, communication, presentation, public speaking and research, and various other skills. If the universities allow a certain duration for scholars to get education in a foreign country or do a specific work placement of their choice before completing their undergraduate courses, they can greatly excel in adopting life-changing skills. For example, if a student from a developing country wants to study in Australia, he should be provided with an opportunity to do so. It will not only broaden his horizon, developing tolerance of other cultures, but also open new doors of opportunities for him in the future. When he completes his undergrad course, he would have expanded his social and communication abilities as a result of that multicultural experience, that will enable him to progress. Similarly, joining a work placement can increase his practical skills, enabling him to learn in a real environment outside his classroom. As a result, he can get the working experience in advance, enhancing the understanding of technicalities of the job. For instance, a student is provided a chance to join a pharmaceutical industry during his course of study. He learns the entire process by witnessing the production of medicines in real time, working with his own hands. It will help him get a high paying job as soon as he completes his course.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of allowing this time period in all courses. Some of the degree courses, like medicine, require more focused studies, and dedicating months on these extra activities can potentially deviate students from their main goal. For example, an individual can become so obsessed with the culture of a foreign country that he may decide to stay there, abandoning his current education course. Furthermore, job placements can consume a lot of time that could have been otherwise effectively utilized at the university.

In conclusion, I believe that the advantages of including some time period of foreign education and work placement in all of the undergraduate courses taught at universities are significant. They easily outweigh the disadvantages, allowing the students to shine professionally, while developing a skill set essential for success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the benefits regarding skill acquisition and professional preparation. The counter-argument regarding the potential for distraction in specialized fields like medicine is relevant and adds depth. The response is well-structured, and the position remains consistent throughout. To reach a higher band, the student could ensure that the discussion of disadvantages is balanced with more specific examples or a more nuanced exploration of how universities might mitigate those risks, rather than just stating them as potential drawbacks.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the drawbacks is handled effectively using phrases like 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader. While the paragraphing is effective, the flow could be slightly more sophisticated by varying the sentence connectors further, as some transitions feel somewhat standard. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'multicultural experience', 'technicalities of the job', and 'effectively utilized' show a good grasp of academic register. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in collocation or word choice, such as 'Useful skill development in scholars' (where 'students' would be more natural) and 'get the working experience' (where 'gain' would be more formal). However, these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and shows an attempt to use less common items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There is good control over grammar, and most sentences are error-free. Examples of complex structures include conditional sentences ('If the universities allow...') and relative clauses ('...that will enable him to progress'). While there are occasional minor errors, such as 'a student is provided a chance' (which could be 'is provided with') and 'the pharmaceutical industry' (where 'the' is unnecessary), these are infrequent and do not affect the clarity of the message. The punctuation is generally accurate throughout the text.

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