Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23

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)

All university degree programs should provide students with an opportunity to study overseas and gain practical work experience. Although this policy has some drawbacks, I believe it offers significant educational benefits through work experience that clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

One major advantage of studying abroad is that it helps students combine academic knowledge with practical and real-world experience. Studying in another country allows young people to learn about different cultures, communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, and become more independent. Similarly, work placements give them a chance to apply the knowledge that they have gained at university in a real workplace. As a result, they can develop useful skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, which may improve their future career prospects.

On the other hand, studying abroad and doing a work placement can also have some downsides. The foremost issue is that students have to spend a large amount of money on travel, accommodation and daily expenses. In addition, living in a foreign country can be challenging due to language barriers and cultural differences. Some students may feel homesick when they are away from their families for a long time. Therefore, these challenges could make the experience stressful for many young students.

To sum up, although studying abroad or completing a work placement can involve high costs and some potential problems, these negative aspects are outweighed by the benefits. Students can develop useful skills, gain practical experience and become more independent. Consequently, I believe that including such experiences in university courses would be beneficial for students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad and doing a work placement as part of undergraduate courses. The writer maintains a clear position throughout the essay, stating that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Ideas are relevant and supported with explanations regarding career prospects, skill development, and potential challenges like financial costs and homesickness. However, some of the supporting points, such as cultural differences and language barriers, are somewhat general and could have been extended further with a specific example to reach a higher band level. Nevertheless, the task is well-handled and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured, moving smoothly from the introduction to body paragraphs discussing advantages and disadvantages, and concluding with a concise summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme. Cohesive devices are employed effectively, such as 'Although this policy', 'One major advantage', 'On the other hand', and 'To sum up', ensuring a cohesive flow. Referencing is clear and appropriate. The only minor limitation preventing a higher score is that some of the transitional phrases are slightly formulaic, keeping cohesion functional rather than fully natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'practical and real-world experience', 'communication, teamwork and problem-solving', and 'future career prospects' are used accurately. There are successful attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'foremost issue', 'accommodation', and 'homesick'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response. While the vocabulary is effective and allows the message to be communicated clearly, it lacks the broader flexibility and more sophisticated, precise lexical control characteristic of higher band levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The student successfully incorporates complex clauses, such as conditional or concessive structures like 'Although this policy has some drawbacks, I believe it offers...' and 'Studying in another country allows young people to learn...'. There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong. Minor slips are virtually absent, and sentence boundaries are well-managed. The grammatical control is solid, making the reading experience smooth, though the range of complex grammatical forms could be slightly broader to achieve an 8.0.

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