Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12
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 6.0)
Universities should allow students to study in a foreign country or to do a work placement during their undergraduate degree. Although this policy has some drwaback as it will be more expensive for students to continue their study in a foreign country but I strongly belive that that advantages outweigh the drawbacks as studying abroad or work placemnet will help students to gain practical experience and it will improve their communucation skills as well.
Unemployment has increased in recent days whcih has mostly effected the degree holders as they lack practical experience. Work placement could help them to overcome this crisis because they will be able to work on field. For example, my brother worked as a junior assistant for one year after getting a work placement which helped him to get a permanent job in Saudi Arabia. Hence, work placement can reduce the stress of getting a permanent job after completing study.
Studying abroad can improve communication skills and students can learn about other cultures as well. However, there are some drawbacks such as it could be expensive for most students to continue their study in a foreign country. For instance, one of my relative was offered a student exchange program for one year in Turkey so he learn Turkish language in order to communicate better with locals but after three months he left Turkey due to lack of financial support. Hence, studiyng abroad can make you learn about new things but it could have some drwabacks as well.
In conclusion, universities should give an option to students to study abroad or to do a work placement. The advantages of studying abroad will improve their communication while through job replacement undergraduate students will be able to gain experience which will help them to get better knowlegde of real world.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including a study abroad or work placement period in undergraduate courses. The writer takes a clear position in the introduction that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, primarily focusing on practical experience, communication skills, and cultural awareness. Ideas are generally well-extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of the brother's work placement leading to a permanent job in Saudi Arabia and the relative's experience in Turkey. However, some arguments lack deeper development, and the conclusion is slightly repetitive. Overall, the performance aligns well with the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6, though the clear position and supporting examples push it towards a 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraphing structure introduction, body paragraphs addressing work placement and studying abroad separately, and a conclusion. Logical sequencing is present, though transitions between and within paragraphs are sometimes mechanical or repetitive, heavily relying on cohesive devices such as 'Hence' and 'For example'. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow is occasionally disrupted by phrasing issues. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct main ideas. This performance sits comfortably in the Band 6 range.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'undergraduate degree', 'permanent job', and 'financial support'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors throughout the text, including 'drwaback' instead of 'drawback', 'belive' instead of 'believe', 'placemnet' instead of 'placement', 'communucation' instead of 'communication', 'whcih' instead of 'which', 'effected' instead of 'affected', 'on field' instead of 'in the field', 'studiyng' instead of 'studying', and 'knowlegde' instead of 'knowledge'. These errors occasionally distract the reader, though they do not seriously impede overall communication, placing this essay squarely at Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ability to construct multi-clause sentences, such as 'Although this policy has some drwaback as it will be more expensive...'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, including run-on sentences, missing articles, and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'so he learn Turkish language' instead of 'so he learned the Turkish language' and 'studying abroad will improve their communication while through job replacement undergraduate students will be able...'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent enough to prevent the essay from reaching Band 6.0, making Band 5.5 a fair assessment.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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