Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It is often argued that all universities undergraduate students should include a period of studying abroad or completing a work experience. Although this requirement may create a financial pressure and practical difficulties for some students, i believe that its advantages outweigh the disadvantages because it provides a valuable practical experience and improves student's future approach.

The main advantage of this approach is that students can gain practical knowledge and develop skills that cannot always be acquired in classrooms. During a work placement students can gain real world experience of working in an organization also can apply their academic knowledge and skills while working. Similarly, studying abroad allows students to know about different culture, learn a foreign language and get an experience of living independently. For example, students of supply chain management can achieve a better understanding of inventory management, customs, shipping and receiving and other international shipping and logistics laws. Such experience make things easier at the transition of student from universities to a employer.

However, their are some disadvantages to making these placements compulsory. The most significant concern is that it can put financial burden on a low-wage income families because studying abroad requires living expenses, traveling expenses and accommodation. Also non-paid placements will not helps financially some students have to look after their families as well.

Despite these challenges, universities could reduce these problems by not making it a compulsory also by providing financial aid to students of low-wage income families. Moreover, they can also provide a paid placements locally which can help students achieve work experience.

To conclude, although compulsory overseas study or work placements may involve some challenges to few students. I believe, their advantages are greater as it provide a real-world experience also a great opportunity which will help in future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of making study abroad or work placements compulsory, and clearly states a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant and extended, such as practical skill acquisition and financial burdens on low-income families. However, some arguments could be further developed with deeper analysis, placing this response comfortably at a Band 6.5 to 7.0 level. The position is clear throughout, and the main tenets of the prompt are well covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction to advantages, disadvantages, mitigating solutions, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'The main advantage', 'However', and 'To conclude'. However, there are some minor mechanical links or slightly awkward transitions, and referencing is occasionally imperfect (e.g., 'their' instead of 'there'). Overall, the paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, maintaining a coherent overall arrangement that fully merits a Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items such as 'inventory management', 'customs', and 'financial burden'. There are, however, some noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'transition of student from universities to a employer' and 'will not helps financially'. Spelling and word formation errors, such as confusing 'their' and 'there' ('their are some disadvantages'), occur occasionally. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching higher bands, aligning best with a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination and relative clauses (e.g., 'Although this requirement may create a financial pressure...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, such as missing articles ('transition of student... to a employer'), incorrect pronoun case ('i believe'), subject-verb agreement issues ('non-paid placements will not helps'), and fragment sentences ('I believe, their advantages are greater as it provide a real-world experience also a great opportunity...'). These errors are noticeable but rarely impede overall communication, placing this securely at a Band 6.0.

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