Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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, many people believe that all university undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or completing a wok placement. While there may be some disadvantages to this requirnment, I believe that the advantage will outweigh them.

One major advantage of studying abroad or doing work placement is that students can gain practical experience. University education mainly provides theoratical knowledge, whereas a workplace allows students to understand how this knowledge is applied in real-life situation. For instance, a psychology student could work in a school or mental health organisation and learn how professionals deal with different situation, this experience can improve student's confidence, communication skills and problem-solving abilities.

Another important benefits of studying abraod is exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking. Living in another country can help students become more independent and open-minded. They may learn a new language intract with people from different background and develop a better understanding of global issues. These skills can be valuable when students enter an increasingly international job markets.

However, there are some disadvantages. Studying aboard can be expensive because students may have to pay for accomadation, travel and daily expenses. Similarly finding a suitable work placement may be diffficult for some students, particularly those who live in fewer employment opportunities . In addition students may experience stress when adapting to a new country.

Despite these drawbacks, universities could reduce the difficulties by providing financial support, scholarship and a range of local and international placement options. Students could also be given flexibilty of time too.

In conclusion, I believe the benefits of including such opportunities in undergraduate courses would outwiegh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including study abroad or work placements in undergraduate courses, and presents a clear position throughout. The arguments are extended and supported, such as providing specific examples of how a psychology student can benefit from a workplace environment. However, there are some minor tendencies to over-generalise or under-develop certain points, such as the brief suggestions in the fifth paragraph regarding how universities might solve financial and logistical problems. The main position is well maintained, and the ideas directly relate to the prompt. According to the Band 7 descriptors, the writer addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position with extended and supported ideas, earning a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and overall progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect such as practical benefits, cultural exposure, disadvantages, and potential solutions. Cohesive devices like 'One major advantage', 'Another important benefits', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader, although there is occasional mechanical use or minor cohesion lapses. Referencing is generally clear, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the text. This aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, incorporating terms like 'practical experience', 'independent', 'open-minded', and 'international job markets'. However, there are several spelling and typographical errors throughout the text, including 'wok' instead of 'work', 'requirnment', 'theoratical', 'abraod', 'intract', 'background' (missing plural 'backgrounds'), 'accomadation', 'diffficult', 'fewer' instead of 'fewer areas with', and 'outwiegh'. Despite these noticeable slips in word form and spelling, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and communication is not impeded, placing this safely in the Band 6 territory due to repeated spelling inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures and subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'While there may be some disadvantages to this requirnment, I believe that the advantage will outweigh them.' There are several grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, such as missing articles ('an international job markets'), subject-verb agreement issues ('the advantage will outweigh'), and run-on structures like 'deal with different situation, this experience can improve...'. However, these errors rarely impede communication and the complex structures show decent control, which matches the Band 6 descriptors.

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

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