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 the 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 stance that the advantages of mandatory study abroad or work placements outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by a concrete example from Australia. However, the essay lacks a balanced discussion; it focuses entirely on the advantages without acknowledging or refuting any potential disadvantages (such as financial burden or academic disruption). To reach a higher band, the response should briefly address the counter-argument to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the topic, as required by the 'discuss' nature of the prompt.

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', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother, and some of the linking phrases feel slightly repetitive. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses some topic-specific collocations like 'work-integrated learning', 'theoretical knowledge', and 'employability'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to an 8.0. There are no significant errors in word choice, and the language used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more varied academic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and the punctuation is handled well. There are no major errors that impede communication. The student successfully uses complex structures, such as '...when students get an opportunity to study abroad or get a work placement.' To achieve a higher band, the student should aim for a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or more sophisticated passive constructions, and ensure that the control over these structures is consistent throughout the entire piece.

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

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