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 working with peers belonging to different ethnicities providing a diverse work culture. A work internship helps students acquire in-depth knowledge about the subjects. Moreover, having work experience on a CV assists undergraduate students to 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

The response addresses the prompt clearly, taking a firm position in favor of mandatory study abroad or work placements. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the Australian 'Professional and Community Engagement' program. However, the response focuses almost exclusively on the advantages. To reach a higher band, the essay should have acknowledged potential disadvantages (such as financial burden or academic disruption) to provide a more balanced, nuanced discussion. While the position is clear, the development is slightly one-sided, which limits the depth of the argument. Overall, the task is addressed well, but the lack of counter-argument prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the internal structure of the second body paragraph is a bit list-like, with several short sentences that could be better integrated to improve the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the central topic of each paragraph is clear, contributing to a coherent overall argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses relevant terminology such as 'theoretical knowledge', 'hands-on experience', 'work-integrated learning', and 'employability'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some collocations could be more natural. For instance, 'book knowledge' is a bit informal; 'academic theory' would be more precise. The range is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly without significant errors. To improve, the student should aim for more sophisticated academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing in the body paragraphs.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional-like structures and relative clauses shows a good level of control. Punctuation is generally correct, though some sentences could be more varied in length to improve the rhythm of the writing. The grammar is consistent throughout, and the student shows a good grasp of subject-verb agreement and tense usage, which is appropriate for a Band 7 level.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.