Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15

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 argued that every university undergraduate should be required to spend some time studying abroad or completing a work placement. While this policy could create certain difficulties, I believe that its advantages would outweigh the disadvantages because it can provide students with valuable practical and personal experience.

One major advantage is that students can develop practical skills that are difficult to gain through classroom education alone. A work placement, for example, allows undergraduates to experience a professional environment, communicate with colleagues and understand how theoretical knowledge is applied in real situations. This can make graduates more confident and better prepared for employment. In addition, studying abroad can help students become more independent. Living in another country requires them to manage their finances, accommodation and daily responsibilities without relying heavily on their families.

Another important benefit of studying abroad is exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking. Students who live in another country have opportunities to communicate with people from different backgrounds and learn about unfamiliar customs. As a result, they may become more open-minded and adaptable. These qualities are increasingly important in the modern workplace, where employees often work with international clients and colleagues. For instance, an Indian student who spends a semester in Germany may improve their communication skills while also gaining a better understanding of European working and academic cultures.

However, making such experience compulsory could cause problems for some students. The cost of travelling, accommodation and living expenses abroad may be too high for students from low-income families. Similarly, some students may have personal or academic reasons that make international study or work placements unsuitable. Nevertheless, universities could reduce this problem by providing financial support and offering local work placements as an alternative to overseas programmes.

In conclusion, although compulsory study abroad or work placements may create financial and practical challenges, the benefits of gaining practical experience, independence and cultural awareness are considerably greater. Therefore, I believe that universities should include such opportunities in undergraduate courses, provided that suitable financial and

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student addresses all parts of the task clearly and presents a well-developed position throughout the essay. The prompt asks whether the advantages of compulsory study abroad or work placements outweigh the disadvantages. The writer takes a clear stance in the introduction, supports it with logical arguments regarding practical skills, independence, and cultural awareness in body paragraphs two and three, and acknowledges counter-arguments regarding financial and personal hurdles in body paragraph four before concluding. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as an Indian student spending a semester in Germany. The response meets all task requirements thoroughly, matching Band 8 descriptors for task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organization and smooth progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, moving through well-structured body paragraphs, and finishing with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and naturally, such as 'One major advantage', 'Another important benefit', and 'However'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate different facets of the argument. Referencing is clear and unambiguous. While the cohesive framework is slightly formulaic in places, it fully satisfies the Band 7 and touches upon Band 8 characteristics for logical sequencing and management of cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common items and collocations are used with reasonable awareness of style, such as 'professional environment', 'theoretical knowledge', 'independent', and 'open-minded and adaptable'. Word choice is generally precise, though some phrases lean towards the standard academic template. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the text. The vocabulary deployed comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7, allowing for natural precision and appropriate tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer exhibits a good control of grammar and punctuation, successfully deploying a wide variety of complex sentence structures. Examples include concessive clauses ('While this policy could create...'), conditional forms ('provided that suitable financial...'), and relative clauses ('where employees often work...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammatical control remains strong from start to finish, with only minor non-systematic issues absent. This level of accuracy and syntactic variety aligns securely with the Band 8 descriptors.

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