Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

A lot of people often argue that all the bachelors education at a university must consist of either an internship or at least a study period spent in a foreign country. I presume the benefits of these measures would surpass its drawbacks to a major extent.

Examining the brighter side of the argument, the foremost one is that providing candidates with the opportunity to work within their undergraduate course, strategically facilitates them to gain industry exposure and develop a strong practical experience. Furthermore, this builds them a strong set of skills demanded in their roles, compliments their academic knowledge. Traditionally, this set of hands-on experiences is what majority of employers prioritise and expect. For instance, students who complete internships in the midst of their degree, frequently receive job offers from the same company upon graduation, effectively securing employment. A period of study abroad offers a comparable advantage, exposing students to different academic systems and cultures, gaining a thorough experience and visibility to academic ventures.

On the other hand, this requirement does include some drawbacks. Securing an internship or funding an abroad study often requires substantial financial backings which may not be reasonable for some students. Additionally, such internships could be disruptive against the candidates' progression of real academic commitments and programmes, such as medicine, IT or engineering, where curriculum momentum is vital. For example, if a student is offered an internship at an organisation that demands paramount duty, students often may not be able to completely achieve it due to the academic and theoretical loads they have.

In conclusion, although foreign study periods or even a work placement can introduce students to financial constraints, I strongly believe that these 2 factors substantially contribute to the students' professional growth and career, enlarging their opportunities through developments in skills and experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task, taking a clear and well-developed position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Both the benefits (industry exposure, skill development, networking) and the drawbacks (financial barriers, potential academic disruption) are explored with relevant supporting arguments and examples. For instance, the discussion of internships leading directly to job offers provides a strong, realistic illustration. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction through to the conclusion. While some arguments could be explored in even greater depth, the response satisfies the criteria for Band 7, as all parts of the prompt are addressed with extended ideas, supported by relevant examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving logically from an introduction and stance, through the advantages, then the disadvantages, to a concise concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Examining the brighter side', 'Furthermore', and 'On the other hand' are used to connect ideas effectively, although some transitions feel slightly formulaic. Paragraphing is managed appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear. The overall flow of information is smooth, ensuring the reader can easily follow the student's line of reasoning. This performance aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for some flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items such as 'strategic flexibility', 'industry exposure', and 'financial backings' are attempted with generally good awareness of collocation. However, there are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'bachelors education' instead of 'undergraduate education', and 'substantive financial backings' where 'backing' or 'support' would be more natural. Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meanings clearly and without impeding communication, fitting comfortably into the Band 7 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. Sentences such as 'students who complete internships in the midst of their degree, frequently receive job offers' show an ability to handle subordinate clauses. However, there are persistent minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'builds them a strong set of skills' instead of 'builds a strong set of skills for them', and 'disruptive against the candidates' progression' instead of 'disruptive to candidates' progression'. Punctuation is generally sound, and while errors are present, they rarely impede communication. This balance of complex structures and recurring minor inaccuracies reflects a solid Band 6.5 performance, rounded to Band 7 given the frequent error-free complex sentences.

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