Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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)

It is often argued that all undergraduate students should spend a period of their degree either studying in a foreign country or undertaking a work placement. Although this would require huge financial and practical requirements, I believe that its advantages weigh more heavily than its disadvantages.

One major benefit of studying abroad or completing internships is it helps students developing valuable practical skills which are difficult to acquire through classroom teachings alone. An internship, for example, allows students to implement their theoretical knowledge in a professional environment and understands how organizations operate. This can improve their communication, teamwork and problem solving abilities. Similarly, studying in another country can expose students to international study environments where they understand the global teaching methods.

Another significant advantage is that it broadens a students thoughts and perspectives. Living and working with people from different backgrounds improves their awareness of different cultures and encourage them to become more open minded. In addition, students students who study abroad may have opportunities to learn new language that will be beneficial in todays globalized job markets. These experiences can also help young people to develop confidence because they have to manage unfamiliar situations in their future.

However, such programs could cause certain problems. The most obvious disadvantage is the financial burden . Travel, accommodation and living expenses may be unaffordable for students from low-income families. In conclusion, although study abroad or work placements could create financial and practical challenges, I believe the benefits of such developments in a university undergraduate programs outweighs the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction to the conclusion: you believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. You address both sides and give relevant reasons, including practical skills, cultural awareness, language learning and the financial burden on students from low-income families. The internship example helps explain how theoretical knowledge can be applied. However, the disadvantages are only briefly mentioned, and the practical challenges introduced at the start are not developed. Some benefits, such as confidence and international teaching methods, are asserted rather than supported with a specific example or explanation. This covers the task, but the ideas are not all developed to the same extent. To strengthen the response, explain the drawbacks and show more clearly why the benefits outweigh them.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two paragraphs presenting advantages, a paragraph on a disadvantage, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “Similarly,” “In addition,” and “However” make the relationships between points easy to follow. The progression within the advantages is generally logical, moving from practical skills to broader personal benefits. Some cohesion is less controlled, though: “These experiences” in the second advantage paragraph has a broad reference, and the conclusion largely repeats the introduction rather than drawing together the comparison. The disadvantage paragraph is also much shorter than the discussion of benefits, which makes the balance feel uneven. Develop that paragraph and use clearer links between each claim and its explanation.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “practical skills,” “theoretical knowledge,” “professional environment,” “financial burden,” and “low-income families.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and attempts at more specific language are evident. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “classroom teachings,” “a students thoughts,” and “global teaching methods.” There are also repeated or imprecise expressions, including “students students” and “developments” in the conclusion. These do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim to check collocations and possessive forms, and choose vocabulary that expresses the intended idea more exactly, such as “classroom instruction” or “perspectives.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concessive opening (“Although this would require…”) and sentences with subordinate clauses. Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “it helps students developing” needs a different verb pattern, and “an internship… understands” shifts incorrectly from the singular subject to a plural meaning. Agreement is also problematic in “awareness… encourage” and “the benefits… outweighs.” Articles and plurals need attention in “a students thoughts” and “learn new language.” These errors rarely obscure your meaning, but they reduce accuracy. Review subject–verb agreement, verb patterns after “help,” and article and plural use; then proofread each sentence for consistency.

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