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)

Every university undergraduate study should incorporate a system that promotes students to spent some time on searching international study opportunities or work placement. Although it might cause financial burden on some students, I believe that advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages.

Admittedly, incorporating such systems in universities might adds on financial burden especially to those belonging to bourgeoisie in terms of accommodation, living expenses, and meals in addition to their tution fee. Similarly in case of work placement, most of the time the internships or job placement opportunities offered to undergraduates are unpaid, that not only burdenaize them financially but also demotivates many students as they are neither encouraged nor supported financially.

On the other hand, despite all the disadvantages I believe that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages as such opportunities improve the critical thinking and confidence of students. Practical work experience especially internships allow students to apply the theoretical knowledge to solve real industrial problems effectively. As a result, by the time a student completes his undergraduate study, he is completely ready to face the challenges in professional life. Additionally, practical work experience not only prepare a student for the industry but also polishes his soft skills like communication, time management, and team work resulting in a professional that can contribute more positively to the society. Similarly, availing studying abroad opportunities not only boosts the confidence of the students but also strengthen their cross-cultural competence.

To conclude, despite all the cons incorporating a studying abroad or work placement period in curriculum has significant advantages in terms of both academicaly and professionally that outweigh the disadvantages discussed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the task by presenting a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Your ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly regarding the professional benefits of work placements and the personal growth associated with studying abroad. However, the discussion of the disadvantages is somewhat brief and could have been expanded with more specific examples or a deeper analysis of how universities might mitigate these financial burdens. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides of the argument are explored with equal depth and that your position remains consistent throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Admittedly', 'On the other hand', and 'As a result' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by minor mechanical errors in phrasing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the counter-argument from your main supporting points. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother, avoiding repetitive structures at the start of your paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'cross-cultural competence', 'theoretical knowledge', and 'industrial problems'. However, there are some instances of awkward word choices or non-standard usage, such as 'burdenaize' (which is not a standard English word) and 'academicaly'. Additionally, the use of 'bourgeoisie' is slightly out of context here, as it refers to a social class rather than students with financial constraints. Increasing your use of precise collocations and avoiding invented words will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'might adds on' (should be 'might add') and 'not only prepare a student... but also polishes' (subject-verb agreement error). Furthermore, 'promotes students to spent' should be 'encourages students to spend'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your verb forms (infinitives vs. gerunds) are used correctly after specific verbs.

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

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