Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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)

All undergraduate university students should spend some of their course time studying abroad or gaining work experience through a placement. It is often argued that this strategy is beneficial, while others believe it may be harmful. This essay will discuss both perspectives before concluding with my own opinion.

Firstly, there are numerous advantages to career building abroad. There is often a significant difference between one's home currency and that of the country abroad, meaning students can potentially earn more during or after their placement. Gaining international exposure also helps students build a global professional network and develop skills such as independence and adaptability, which employers highly value. However, one disadvantage is that the initial days abroad can be very difficult, as students must adjust to managing their living expenses, accommodation, food, and transportation, often for the first time without family support.

Furthermore, studying or working abroad exposes students to different cultures and working environments, which broadens their perspective and improves their ability to solve problems creatively. This experience often makes graduates more attractive to employers in an increasingly global job market. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that not all students may be able to afford the costs involved, and being away from family for an extended period can be emotionally challenging for some.

In conclusion, I believe that some of the undergraduate course time should be utilised for studying or working abroad, as the benefits of international exposure and career development outweigh the temporary challenges involved. It would be extremely advantageous for students' future careers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad or doing a work placement during undergraduate studies. A clear position is maintained throughout the response, concluding with the view that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Ideas are extended with relevant points, such as career building, gaining a global network, financial considerations, and emotional challenges. For example, the student notes that 'gaining international exposure also helps students build a global professional network'. However, some ideas, such as financial and emotional hurdles, could be explored in slightly greater depth to reach the highest bands. Overall, the task is well-addressed, aligning closely with the Band 7 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a standard introduction, moving through body paragraphs that discuss advantages and disadvantages, and finishing with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. While the flow is mostly smooth and logical, the paragraphing and use of cohesive devices occasionally feel slightly formulaic rather than fully flexible, which keeps the score at a solid Band 7 level.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow flexibility and precision, employing terms such as 'international exposure', 'adaptability', 'global professional network', and 'increasingly global job market'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'living expenses' and 'emotionally challenging'. There are very few lexical errors, and communication is never impeded. Although the range is not exceptionally wide or sophisticated enough for a Band 8, it easily satisfies the requirements for Band 7 by demonstrating adequate control and a varied vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms quite effectively, incorporating subordinate clauses and participle phrases, such as 'meaning students can potentially earn more during or after their placement' and 'which employers highly value'. There is a high proportion of error-free sentences, and grammar and punctuation are generally well controlled. While the range of complex structures is somewhat standard rather than fully flexible, control is strong, resulting in frequent error-free sentences. This performance sits comfortably within the Band 7 descriptor, where good control and a variety of complex structures are displayed.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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