Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

In today's era, students require strong skills in their preferred courses rather than relying solely only on theoretical knowledge. From my perspective, all the university should mandatory include a period of time when students get an opportunity to study abroad or get a work placement.

To begin with, book knowledge does not last forever, students require skills necessary for their elected courses to build a successful career. A study abroad program or a work placement would help them gain hands on experience and utilise what they have learnt in real life experiences. For instance, universities in Australia provide a work integrated learning program called Professional and Community Engagement program where undergraduate students work with real organization on practical projects.

Furthermore, this creates a way for students to connect their studies with real life projects. Along with that, studying abroad helps students become more confident in handling responsibilities and work with peers belonging to different ethnicities providing a diverse work culture. A work internship helps students provide in depth knowledge about the subjects. Moreover, having work experience on CV assists undergraduate students gain better opportunity in future. Students develop various problem-solving skills, time management, professionalism and work ethics at a young age.

To conclude, a study abroad programme or a work placement for a particular period of time helps students gain practical experience, bridge the gap between academic knowledge and employment, and develop essential professional skills. Therefore, such opportunities can significantly enhance students’ employability, confidence, independence, and readiness for their future careers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in favor of mandatory study abroad or work placements. The ideas are relevant and supported by a specific example from Australia. However, the development is somewhat limited; while the benefits are listed, the potential disadvantages are not addressed, which is a requirement for a balanced discussion of whether the advantages 'outweigh' the disadvantages. To reach a higher band, you should acknowledge the potential drawbacks, such as financial costs or academic disruption, and then explain why the benefits are more significant.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'Along with that', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the progression of ideas within the third paragraph is a bit repetitive, as it lists several benefits without fully expanding on how they relate to the core argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the central topic of each paragraph is clear.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some topic-specific terms like 'work integrated learning', 'undergraduate', and 'employability'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'all the university should mandatory include' (should mandatorily include) and 'work with real organization' (organizations). The range is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the more sophisticated, precise vocabulary that would characterize a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'all the university should mandatory include' (subject-verb agreement and word form) and 'assists undergraduate students gain' (should be 'to gain' or 'in gaining'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You have a good grasp of basic sentence structure, but more attention to verb patterns and article usage would improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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