Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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)

The advantages of incorporating study abroad periods or internships into undergraduate degree programs significantly outweigh the minor drawbacks.

Key Advantages:

Enhanced Career Readiness: Work placements bridge the gap between academic theory and practical application. Students acquire hands-on experience, essential technical skills, and professional networking opportunities that drastically increase their employability upon graduation.

Cultural Competence and Independence: Studying abroad exposes students to diverse perspectives, global cultures, and new languages. Living in a different country fosters resilience, self-reliance, and adaptability—qualities highly valued in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

Broader Skill Development: Both experiences build soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration that traditional classroom settings cannot fully replicate.

Potential Disadvantages:

Financial Burden: Studying in a foreign country or accepting unpaid placements can impose significant financial stress on students from low-income backgrounds.

Academic Delays or Disruptions: Mandatory periods away from campus can extend degree timelines or create difficulty in transferring credit units.

Relocation Stress: Adjusting to unfamiliar work environments or navigating culture shock abroad can cause severe anxiety for some undergraduates.

Conclusion:

While the logistical and financial hurdles are valid concerns, universities can mitigate these through targeted scholarships, flexible credit systems, and strong mental health support services. Ultimately, the long-term professional, personal, and educational benefits gained from practical international or workplace exposure make this initiative invaluable for modern undergraduate education.

As a conclusion, the advantages of having a workplacement or getting an opportunity abroad will be more affective as it will groom the students and they will be able to be more successful in their careers by getting some international exposure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including study abroad and work placements in undergraduate programs, and clearly states a position that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant points such as enhanced career readiness, cultural competence, financial burden, and academic delays. The use of bulleted or structured points demonstrates a clear logical flow and careful planning, resulting in a well-rounded response that effectively covers the prompt. Based on the Band 7 descriptors, the response addresses all parts with a clear position throughout, and ideas are extended and supported effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The use of headings and structured bullet points makes the layout exceptionally easy to follow, representing a logical framework for an essay response. Cohesive devices and referencing are used appropriately, guiding the reader smoothly from advantages to disadvantages and finally to a well-structured conclusion. However, the final conclusion paragraph feels slightly repetitive given the earlier conclusion section, which introduces some minor redundancy in overall progression. Overall, the structural coherence is strong, earning a solid Band 7 rating.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic context. Phrases such as 'bridge the gap', 'cultural competence', 'interconnected global economy', and 'culture shock' demonstrate an awareness of collocation and style. There are minor slips in word choice, such as 'more affective' instead of 'more effective' in the final sentence, but these do not impede communication. The vocabulary is varied and precise enough to convey complex ideas clearly, matching the requirements for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex structures alongside accurate simple sentences, demonstrating good control over grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'Living in a different country fosters resilience, self-reliance, and adaptability—qualities highly valued in an increasingly interconnected global economy.' There are frequent error-free sentences, though a few minor errors occur, such as the misspelling of 'workplacement' as a single word and the lexical/grammatical slip 'more affective' in the final concluding remark. These errors are occasional and do not impede comprehension, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

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