Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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 7.0)

It is often articulated that programs studied at university undergraduate level should follow a compulsory period for exchange studies abroad or a practical training. It is my contention that such an opportunity can have many advantages for students in terms of education as well as practical experience.

Undergraduate studies prepare the pioneers of future in every academic program. The curriculums are well designed to provide holistic knowledge in the field of interest of the students. However, the theoretical knowledge learned needs an application to be experienced by the students to estimate their capabilities in real-world settings. For this reason, I think that providing the students with a duration for work placement like internships or project-based working related to their area of study can foster their abilities for developing a practical mindset. Additionally, they can identify the areas they lack in, in order to thrive in industrial setting and also play a pivotal role in developing soft-skills like problem solving and negotiation that are not possible to establish by merely reading textbooks.

Another reason for which I think the approach of providing students with a period of time to study abroad can prove vital is that it gives the students an opportunity to exchange knowledge at a global level. Students can experience theoretical and practical information that lacks in their own country. Moreover, the new concepts and ideas learned can be integrated in industries of the home country by the students to bridge the existing gap.

Although such placements have many benefits, they can also present certain challenges for instance, at present institutes abroad or leading organizations prefer to admit students that are exceptional academically and acquire particular skill sets according to their preference. Subsequently, average students are bound to loose such opportunities so all students enrolled in a program cannot benefit from this opportunity. This can be unfair in an academic environment where people come to avail prospects for development.

Consequently, advantages for providing students with prospects of studying abroad and availing work placements outweigh its disadvantages owing to the professional development of the students that will eventually lead to prosperity of the field of studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The arguments regarding practical experience and global knowledge exchange are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning. The counter-argument regarding the potential for unfairness is also addressed, demonstrating a balanced view. The ideas are extended logically, and the conclusion reinforces the initial stance. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, concrete examples of how these programs function in real-world scenarios, rather than relying solely on general statements about 'industrial settings' or 'academic environments'. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a clear and consistent position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits and the counter-argument is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', 'Although', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. While the flow is generally good, some of the referencing could be slightly more refined to avoid minor repetition. Overall, the structure is clear, and the logical flow is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'pivotal role', 'holistic knowledge', and 'bridge the existing gap' show an awareness of academic style. There are occasional minor inaccuracies, such as 'loose' instead of 'lose' and 'programs studied' which is slightly awkward phrasing. However, these errors do not impede communication. The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, and the student attempts to use less common items to convey complex ideas. To improve, the student should focus on more precise collocations and ensure spelling accuracy for common words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over grammar, with many error-free sentences. However, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'programs studied at university undergraduate level should follow a compulsory period' (which is slightly unnatural) and 'the areas they lack in, in order to thrive'. Punctuation is generally handled well, though there are occasional awkward phrasings that slightly disrupt the flow. The range of structures is sufficient to convey complex arguments, and the errors present are not frequent enough to impede understanding or cause significant difficulty for the reader.

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