Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 observed that courses such as experience of studying abroad or having a job must be a part of the curriculum for all bachelor students. In my opinion, the benefits of this change would surpass the drawbacks to a major extent. My position is elaborated further with reasons and relevant examples.

During university years, students not only require theoretical knowledge but also valuable experience and network that would help them in their fieldwork and proffessional lives. Introduction of such courses in the syllabus will improve students employability skills, as they would learn from experiences of other students. If any student plans on studying abroad, these sessions would serve them with the right knowledege and a network to connect with. For instance, one of friends got into a prestigious European scholarship known as Eramus Mundus because she attended a seminar which was organized by a group of Aluminis. Furthermore, this would bring a significant change in the employment rate of students as this would create awareness about the kinds of skills that are in demand in the market.

However, inlcuding these periods might drift the students away from their main courses and many would utilize this time for socializing with their friends. For engineering students who already have strict deadlines and multiple projects, cramming extra periods would result in hectic schedules and poor time management. Rather than making these sessions compulsory, it would be beneficial to have them optional or turn them into societies and clubs.

This would ensure that students have access to mentorship and guidance through their batchmates and seniors as they begin to transition into the next phase of their lives.

In conclusion, I agree that these courses should be introduced in all universities as it is important for a student to build a network and develop practical competencies. Although, making strict schedules would not be practical for engineering or sciences students, it will help the students find more jobs and better opportunities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, considering both the advantages and disadvantages of including studying abroad or work placements in undergraduate degrees, and presents a clear position throughout. The introduction outlines the writer's stance that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, which is then maintained in the body paragraphs. Ideas are generally well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of the Erasmus Mundus scholarship. However, some arguments in the second body paragraph drift slightly into the mechanics of how to implement these programs rather than strictly weighing pros and cons, and certain points like 'learning from experiences of other students' are somewhat under-developed. Overall, the task is addressed competently, fitting the criteria for a solid Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Information and ideas are structured into appropriate paragraphs with a discernible introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides of the argument, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively to connect ideas, such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently, ensuring each paragraph has a distinct central topic, though the transition between ideas in the third paragraph could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression guides the reader naturally through the writer's argument, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'theoretical knowledge', 'employability skills', and 'practical competencies'. However, there are some noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, spelling, and collocation. For instance, 'bachelor students' should typically be 'undergraduate students' or 'bachelor's degree students', 'proffessional' contains a spelling error, 'one of friends' is missing a determiner ('one of my friends'), and 'Aluminis' is misspelled ('alumni'). Despite these occasional lexical and spelling errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to allow the message to be communicated clearly, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the essay, demonstrating attempts at varied grammatical forms such as conditional sentences ('If any student plans on...') and relative clauses. There are several grammar and punctuation errors present, such as 'courses such as experience of studying abroad or having a job must be' (faulty predication), 'serve them with the right knowledege' (spelling error and preposition choice), and 'through their batchmates' instead of 'with their batchmates'. Although these errors occur, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear. The mix of structures and frequency of error-free sentences place this submission firmly in the Band 6 category.

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

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