Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22

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, some people belive that all university undergraduate courses should include a period of studying abroad or doing a work placement. I believe that the advantages of this idea would outweight the disadvantages because students can gain valuable experience and develop important skills for their future careers.

One major advantage is that student can gain practical experience. At university, students mainly learn theoretical knowledge, but a work placement allows them to understand how this knowledge is used in the real world.For example, a pharmacy student could work in a hospita or communityt pharmacy and learn how to communicate with patient and other healthcare professionals. This experience could make students more confident and better prepared for employment after graduation.

Another benefit of studying abroad is that students can experience a different culture and improve their communication skills. Living in another country can help young people become more independent and learn how to deal with unfamiliar situations. They may also improve their English or an other foreign language, which can be useful when applying for jobs in the future.

However, there are some disadvantages. Studying oe working abroad can be expensive and some students may find it difficult to live away from their families. In addition, students may feel stressed or homesick in a new environment. Nevertheless, universities could reduce these problems by providing financial support, accommodation and proper guidance.

In conclusion, although studying abroad or doing a work placement can be costly and challenging, I believe the benefits are greater. Practical experience, independence and improved communicationskills can prepare stuentsa much better for their future careers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout. The writer explores both the advantages, such as practical experience and cultural exposure, and the disadvantages, including costs and homesickness, before concluding that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Ideas are supported with relevant examples, such as a pharmacy student working in a hospital or community pharmacy. While some of the supporting points could be further extended to reach higher band levels, the task is fully covered, meeting the criteria for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, beginning with a clear introduction, moving through well-structured body paragraphs focusing on practical experience, studying abroad, and counter-arguments, and ending with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used adequately and appropriately, such as 'One major advantage', 'Another benefit', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the overall progression of the argument is easy to follow, making this a solid Band 7 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'practical experience', 'theoretical knowledge', 'healthcare professionals', and 'financial support' show an awareness of appropriate collocation. There are some minor spelling and lexical errors, such as 'belive' instead of 'believe', 'outweight' instead of 'outweigh', 'student' instead of 'students', and 'communityt' instead of 'community', but these do not impede communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable control, aligning well with the descriptors for Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating the ability to use subordinate clauses effectively, as seen in sentences like 'although studying abroad or doing a work placement can be costly and challenging, I believe the benefits are greater.' There are several mechanical and grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing pluralisation ('student can gain', 'stuentsa'), typographical errors ('oe' instead of 'or'), and minor prepositional or article slips. However, these errors do not impede communication and the punctuation is generally sound. This represents a typical Band 6 performance for grammar.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.