Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

International internships or exchange programs for undergraduate students are becoming very common these days. As a result, people often discuss their effectiveness and challenges that can come with it to reach a conclusion if this addition is a good idea or not. In my opinion, going abroad for education or a work placement for a certain period of time is highly advantageous. This is because it gives you broader career options and a chance to adapt in a diverse society.

Going for an overseas study or an internship can give profound career and social benefits. When students go to an entirely different country, they learn about the new evolving trends and by actually spending time at workplaces prepare them to enter into the job market before they even start their career. Moreover, the interaction with people from diverse backgrounds is helpful in creating community ties and learning to adapt in this cosmopolitan world. For example, many universities in Europe offer one semester exchange programs or internships for students from developing countries. In this way, many learners get more opportunities for their career development and learn about how to fit in a global village.

Some people argue that generating internships and other study opportunities for international students is quite challenging. While their concerns about affordability are genuine, they cannot outweigh the advantages they bring. While such projects require massive funding and support from the government in order to accommodate a large number of students, it is beneficial for both economic and social development. For example, every year top universities like Harvard and MIT give scholarships to students around the world which can cover all of their expenses. As a result, these students join their companies as employees, playing a huge role in building a stronger economy.

In conclusion, international work placements and study programs are being included as a part of a degree more frequently these days. It's highly advantageous both for social and economical growth. Meanwhile, there can be challenges but they are controllable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including studying abroad or work placements in undergraduate courses. You take a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, supporting your stance with relevant arguments regarding career progression, global adaptability, and economic benefits. Your ideas are well developed and extended, particularly when discussing how universities support these initiatives through scholarships. While the exploration of disadvantages is slightly brief, focusing mainly on affordability and funding challenges, it is sufficient to meet the requirements for a well-balanced discussion. Overall, the task response is well-structured and addresses the core requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with a solid introduction, moving into the specific advantages, addressing the counter-arguments and disadvantages, and finishing with a concise conclusion. You make use of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader through your arguments. However, referencing and cohesive links are occasionally a bit mechanical or repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'While' in the third paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately, ensuring that ideas are grouped logically and cohesively from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, allowing you to discuss academic and professional topics effectively. You successfully incorporate less common lexical items such as 'cosmopolitan world', 'career development', and 'evolving trends'. Word choice is generally appropriate, though there are minor inaccuracies or awkward collocations, such as 'generating internships' instead of 'creating' or 'funding internships', and 'economical growth' instead of 'economic growth'. Nevertheless, your vocabulary range is adequate to convey your ideas clearly without impeding communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You display a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses like 'When students go to an entirely different country, they learn...'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and your overall control of grammar is strong. However, a few minor errors persist, such as pronoun agreement issues in the introduction ('challenges that can come with it' referring to plural 'programs') and a missing subject or awkward phrasing in sentences like 'Meanwhile, there can be challenges but they are controllable.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and your grammatical errors do not impede communication.

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