Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In recent years, higher education institutions have increasingly debated whether undergraduate curricula should mandate practical external experience. While some contend that degree programs should include compulsory overseas study or an internship, others worry about the accompanying burdens. In my opinion, despite logistical and financial drawbacks, the immense benefits of both study exchanges and industry placements far outweigh any disadvantages.

Studying abroad provides undergraduates with invaluable cultural intelligence and global perspective. Living in an unfamiliar country forces students out of their comfort zones, cultivating self-reliance, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication skills. For example, collaborating with international peers and faculty exposes learners to diverse pedagogical styles and alternative viewpoints that are impossible to replicate in a domestic classroom. Consequently, overseas academic exposure equips graduates with a global mindset that modern multinational employers prioritize highly.

Similarly, completing a formal work placement bridges the persistent divide between abstract theoretical knowledge and hands-on professional competence. Internships allow students to apply textbook methodologies to real-world industrial challenges, mastering specialized workplace tools and interpersonal teamwork dynamics. Furthermore, undergraduates who undergo corporate training frequently secure full-time job offers prior to graduation, significantly enhancing overall youth employability and reducing post-college transition stress.

Nevertheless, incorporating these mandates entails considerable drawbacks, most notably financial inequality and degree prolongation. Traveling abroad involves excessive expenditures on airfare, international tuition differentials, and elevated living costs, which disproportionately burden lower-income families. Concurrently, undertaking a placement often extends a bachelor's program from three years to four, delaying entry into the full-time workforce and escalating the opportunity cost for students eager to earn an independent income.

In conclusion, while mandatory study abroad or professional internships can impose monetary burdens and lengthen course durations, their long-term advantages are superior. By developing intercultural maturity and delivering indispensable industry experience, these initiatives provide graduates with lifelong career competitiveness that easily compensates for the initial hurdles.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The candidate fully addresses all parts of the task by thoroughly discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of including a period of study abroad or work placement in undergraduate curricula. A clear position is established in the introduction ('the immense benefits... far outweigh any disadvantages') and maintained consistently throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as collaborating with international peers and bridging theoretical knowledge with practical competence. The arguments are logical, well-extended, and directly answer the prompt without any major omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used skillfully and appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct sub-theme (cultural intelligence, professional competence, and drawbacks). Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'Nevertheless', and 'In conclusion' are managed effectively to guide the reader smoothly through the argument. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The candidate utilizes a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic context. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'cultural intelligence', 'pedagogical styles', 'persist divide', and 'opportunity cost'. Word choices are precise, and the writing demonstrates a sophisticated control of language with only occasional minor slips. Spelling and word formation are entirely accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a wide variety of complex sentence structures used with a high degree of control and flexibility. The majority of sentences are error-free, incorporating sophisticated dependent clauses and participial phrases, such as 'Living in an unfamiliar country forces students out of their comfort zones, cultivating self-reliance...' and 'Traveling abroad involves excessive expenditures... which disproportionately burden lower-income families.' Punctuation is accurate, and grammatical errors are virtually non-existent, reflecting an advanced command of English grammar.

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