Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In today's era, students require strong skills in their preferred courses rather than relying solely on theoretical knowledge. From my perspective, all universities should mandatorily 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 a 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 a CV assists undergraduate students gain better opportunities 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

You have addressed the prompt clearly, maintaining a consistent position that the advantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements outweigh the disadvantages. You provide relevant examples, such as the Australian 'Professional and Community Engagement' program, which adds depth to your argument. However, the task asks you to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. While you focus heavily on the benefits, you do not explicitly discuss or refute any potential disadvantages (such as financial burden or time constraints). To reach a higher band, you should briefly acknowledge the counter-argument to provide a more balanced and comprehensive discussion, ensuring the 'weighing' aspect of the prompt is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' to signal the progression of your ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly abrupt, and some cohesive devices feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases that connect the ideas within the paragraphs more fluidly. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'theoretical knowledge', 'hands-on experience', and 'employability'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some collocations are slightly imprecise, such as 'provide in depth knowledge' (which should be 'gain' or 'acquire'). You avoid repetitive language, but the vocabulary remains somewhat functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and idiomatic expressions that sound more natural in a formal context. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that your meaning is never obscured. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'assists undergraduate students gain' (which should be 'assists... in gaining' or 'helps... to gain'). While you show good control over punctuation and sentence construction, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher band, aim to incorporate a wider variety of subordinate clauses and more sophisticated grammatical structures to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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