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 undergraduates get high-skilled jobs in the host country's workforce, contributing towards 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 economic growth. Though, there can be challenges but they are controllable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing whether the advantages of including a study abroad or work placement period in undergraduate courses outweigh the disadvantages. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The writer introduces the topic, argues that the benefits outweigh the challenges, and supports this with relevant examples, such as exchange programs in Europe and university scholarships like those from Harvard and MIT. The ideas are extended and supported well, though some arguments regarding affordability and funding could have been slightly deeper to reach a higher band. Overall, the task response is well-developed, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt requirements and fulfilling all criteria for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs exploring the advantages and the opposing view regarding challenges, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Moreover', 'For example', and 'In conclusion'. However, there are minor instances of repetitive linking structures or slightly mechanical transitions, preventing it from reaching higher bands. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly through the writer's arguments. Referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression of ideas is easy to follow, making this a solid performance for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'cosmopolitan world', 'career development', and 'high-skilled jobs'. There are occasional awkward expressions, such as 'reach a conclusion if this addition is a good idea or not' and 'generating internships', but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, although vocabulary remains somewhat standard rather than truly sophisticated or flexible. These characteristics align comfortably with the descriptors for Band 6.5, showing good control over everyday academic language while occasionally stumbling on precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and relative structures, such as 'This is because it gives you broader career options...' and 'While their concerns about affordability are genuine, they cannot outweigh the advantages they bring.' There are some minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'adapt in a diverse society' instead of 'adapt to', and a punctuation/contractual slip in 'It's'. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the majority of sentences are grammatically sound. The control of grammar and punctuation meets the requirements for a Band 6.5, showing good variety alongside manageable mistakes.

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

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