Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-04

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 inclusion of foreign study programs or industrial work placements in undergraduate degrees is a matter of debate. While some argue the existing workload is already too high for students, I believe that these programs provide much more benefits to the students rather than making their lives more difficult.

Students at universities already complain with the existing pressure and workload of their courses, adding extra work placements or foreign study programs will increase the burden on them. Some people argue that during the summers, students prefer to relax and take some time off from their studies. Going on internships would put extra mental pressure on them leading to lower performance in the next semester. For example, some professors argue that the performance of working students is much lower than students who focus on their studies full time. Furthermore, people say that going abroad to study will unsettle them and cause them to feel left out, since they know noone overthere. They also believe students may have a hard time to adapt to the new environment. While these are valid arguments they can be resolved by taking the right measures. For example, the university can co-ordinate with companies to provide proper paid internship programs that will provide real value to the students. Similarly for study abroad programs, universities should conduct proper induction of the incoming students, so they can connect and link with others.

The benefits of these programs include gaining actual work experience, which will help them in their careers going forward. Also by working in the industry, it will help bridge the gap between the academia and professional organizations. It will allow individuals to network in companies, so once they graduate they may be able to seek assistance from their contacts. For example students who get a referral from an internal employee at a company are more likely to get an interview call, rather than the students who have applied normally. Study abroad programs will also help students to increase their knowledge of their career prospects in foreign countries. If they see that the other country has better opportunities in their domain, it may help them to take the decision to migrate to that country.

In conclusion, while there may be some issues associated with work placements and study abroad programs, with the right steps taken by universities and the industry, they can be overcome. Gaining real world experience along with the networking opportunities, make these type of programs highly beneficial for students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout, concluding that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Main ideas are extended and supported, such as discussing career benefits, networking opportunities, and how universities can mitigate the initial workload and adaptation challenges. However, there is a tendency to over-generalise slightly in the body paragraphs, and certain points, such as studying abroad aiding migration decisions, could have been elaborated further with greater depth to fully satisfy higher descriptors. Overall, the task is handled competently with a well-developed line of argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently linked, making the progression of the argument easy to follow from the introduction through to the conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic, such as counter-arguments in the second paragraph and benefits in the third. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, including transitional phrases like 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'In conclusion'. However, there is occasionally a slightly mechanical feel to the referencing and transitions, which prevents the essay from reaching higher levels of cohesive fluency.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, providing sufficient range to communicate ideas clearly and with some flexibility. The writer attempts to use less common lexical items, such as 'industrial work placements', 'induction', and 'career prospects', demonstrating an awareness of academic style and collocation. However, there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and expression, such as 'provide much more benefits' instead of 'provide many more benefits', and minor phrasing awkwardness like 'interview call'. Spelling and word-formation errors are minimal and do not impede communication, allowing the reader to grasp the intended meaning without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over various structures such as conditional and concessive clauses. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, including prepositional issues and minor agreement slips, such as 'students who know noone overthere' and 'hard time to adapt' instead of 'hard time adapting'. Additionally, comma splices and minor punctuation lapses occasionally surface. Nevertheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the majority of sentences to remain clear and grammatically sound.

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