Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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)

It has been suggested that all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. I presume that the benefits of it would surpass its drawbacks to a major extent. My position is elaborated further with the reasons and relevant examples.

Examining the brighter side, the foremost one is that studying abroad promotes cultural exchange, for instance, most of the universities have international students who can interact with each other and discuss about their traditions back home. Moreover, work placements abroad also develop techniques to adjust to different environments. For example, we cannot expect to have an acquaintance with a friendly employer; sometimes we can meet unexpected people with a short temper, who can test our patience.

On the contrary, I would not overlook the downsides. To begin with, homesickness is a major drawback, such as, one has to spend months away from home and even won't be able to get enough time to communicate with the family, or even the time zones will not allow to remain in touch with parents. We cannot strike a balance between work life and personal life. Furthermore, we have to do all the chores ourselves without any help; the food may not be to taste, and we certainly have to make it ourselves.

To conclude, both merits and demerits of staying abroad go hand in hand. However, I believe that the experience abroad is more advantageous, and it outweighs the disadvantages, since it is a lifetime experience where we can learn lessons no course can ever teach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt directly and takes a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Main ideas are presented, such as cultural exchange and personal adaptability as advantages, alongside homesickness and chores as disadvantages. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited and leans towards generalisations rather than fully extended argumentation. For instance, the discussion on work placements shifting to dealing with short-tempered employers is a valid point, but it remains brief. Similarly, the disadvantages focus heavily on domestic challenges like food and chores rather than broader academic or professional drawbacks. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, fitting the criteria for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6 where all parts are covered, but some areas feel under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides, and a conclusion that restates the writer's stance. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'Examining the brighter side', 'Moreover', and 'On the contrary'. However, some of the referencing and transitional links feel a bit mechanical or unnatural, for instance, starting a sentence with 'such as, one has to spend months away from home'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate advantages and disadvantages, providing a logical progression of ideas throughout the text. While referencing is sometimes slightly clunky, the flow remains clear, making this a comfortable Band 6.5 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at less common items such as 'cultural exchange', 'acquaintance', and 'advantageous'. However, there are noticeable limitations and occasional awkward word choices, such as 'discuss about their traditions' (where 'about' is redundant) and 'meet unexpected people with a short temper' (where 'unpredictable' or 'difficult colleagues' might be more precise). The student demonstrates a sufficient range to communicate their ideas clearly, but the lexical control lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, placing this comfortably in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over grammar. Examples of complex structures include conditional and relative clauses, such as 'most of the universities have international students who can interact with each other'. There are, however, some grammatical inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'the food may not be to taste, and we certainly have to make it ourselves' and 'even won't be able to get enough time'. Punctuation is generally functional, but minor slip-ups occur. The errors do not impede communication, and there are enough error-free sentences to secure a Band 6.5.

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

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