Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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)

Nowadays, universities are highly expected to prepare students for thier future career as well as provide them with academic knowledge. Some believe that all the universities should provide a semester exchange programme and a completing internship during undergraduate. I believe that its advantages can outweigh its disadvantages.

To begin with, there are several advantages if universities apply this for undergrad students. One major advantage is that it would help students gain real life experience on how to develope important skills.Secondly, it would provide them with great exposure such as in lectures they learn through books or other materials whereas in here they would have to apply their knowledge to real work life situations.Thirdly, they would learn time management which is very important in todays world before they actually start working.So, when go pass through and look for work this experience and exposure would provide them a upper hand over other candidates as employers are always looking for graduates who have not only academic qualifications but also practical skills and experience. In addition international study allows tudents to interact with people from different backgrounds, which can be very useful for them to tackle with clients in future. For example I have done both a semester exchange programme at a university in USA and summer internship here in India which has proven very helpful to me at where I am working.

However, there are some disadvantages to this requirement. Studying abroad can be expensive because students may have to pay for travel, accommodation and living expenses. Work placements may also be difficult to arrange for every student, particularly in courses where suitable placements are limited. Furthermore, some students may have family responsibilities or other personal circumstances that make travelling abroad difficult.

In conclusion, although compulsory overseas study or work placements could create financial and practical difficulties for some students, the opportunity to gain practical experience, independence and better career skills makes the overall benefits greater. Therefore, I believe that universities should include such opportunities in undergraduate education, while providing suitable alternatives for students who cannot participate abroad.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of making study abroad or work placements compulsory, and presents a clear position throughout. Ideas are extended and supported, particularly in the second paragraph where the student draws upon personal experience and outlines benefits such as real-life experience, time management, and international exposure. However, some arguments, such as the mention of time management, are slightly underdeveloped and could benefit from further elaboration. Overall, the task is addressed well, fulfilling the criteria for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed, such as "To begin with", "Secondly", "Furthermore", and "In conclusion", though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or overused in a list-like fashion ("To begin with", "One major advantage", "Secondly", "Thirdly"). Referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression of the argument is easy to follow, aligning closely with Band 6.5 or a solid Band 7.0 structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as "international exposure", "practical skills", and "personal circumstances". However, there are notable spelling and word-choice errors, such as "thier" for their, "completing internship" instead of completing an internship, "develope" instead of develop, "todays" instead of today's, "tudents" instead of students, and "go pass through". While these errors do not severely impede communication, they prevent the lexical score from reaching higher bands, placing it firmly at a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ability to construct subordinate clauses (e.g., "...although compulsory overseas study or work placements could create financial and practical difficulties..."). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation issues throughout the text, including missing articles ("an upper hand", "a semester exchange programme"), incorrect prepositions or phrasing ("at where I am working"), and punctuation errors such as missing spaces after commas and periods. Because these errors occur regularly alongside a decent mix of structures, the grammar aligns with Band 6.0.

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