Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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)

Educational exchange programs enable students to explore different cultures and academic facilities. It is often argued that either studying in foreign countries or working abroad should be included in undergraduate courses. Even though this approach facilitates students in exploring their potential in various sectors and enables them to work in world-class facilities, the major disadvantage is that students lose their attention in compulsory subjects.

One of the major benefits of an exchange program is that youngsters gain confidence to present their innovation around the world. These programs are the most significant for those students who want to apply Master and PhD in abroad universities, and students develop connections with professors. Furthermore, several countries, particularly developing countries, do not have enough resources and capital to spend on their research, so it is a good option to work in high-tech labs. A good example is that the USA launches a cultural exchange program every year for university students, where students explore cultural customs and build relationships with professors. Thus, students must spend some time in other countries to gain additional knowledge.

A major drawback is that the students do not concentrate properly after completing these courses. Different thoughts remain in mind, such as applying for this scholarship and participating in co-curricular activities, which can affect their grades. Moreover, sometimes people do not return to their nation after completing these courses, particularly asylum seekers. A clear example is that students from developing nations apply for different courses and do jobs when they go abroad. Thus, these types of courses can affect their academic career and the country's reputation.

In conclusion, despite their drawback is detrimental for student career and do not performing poorly in their studies, their advantages would outweigh them by providing opportunities to work in a good environment and enabling to explore their abilities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing arguments for both the advantages and disadvantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the benefits are supported by a relevant example regarding the USA, the discussion on disadvantages—specifically the point about 'asylum seekers'—is slightly tangential and could be more tightly linked to the academic context of the prompt. To reach a higher band, ensure that all supporting points directly reinforce the core argument regarding the impact on undergraduate education rather than broader socio-economic issues.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'A clear example is', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as in the final sentence of the conclusion. The referencing is generally clear, but the logical progression within the final paragraph is slightly hampered by grammatical issues, making the summary of the argument less impactful than it could be.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'facilitates', 'innovation', and 'detrimental'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'apply Master and PhD in abroad universities' (should be 'apply for Master's and PhD programs at overseas universities') and 'do jobs' (should be 'seek employment'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but the lack of precision in these areas prevents a higher score. Expanding your repertoire of academic collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with prepositions, articles, and verb forms (e.g., 'despite their drawback is detrimental', 'enabling to explore'). Some sentences are structurally incomplete or awkward, such as 'do not performing poorly in their studies'. These errors are persistent and occasionally require the reader to re-read to grasp the intended meaning. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will be key to improving this score.

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

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