Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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)

There have been various arguments about whether it is advantageous for university students to have a specific period in their course where they can go study abroad or be able to have a work placement. I personally believe that it is quite advantageous for the students as it can help them build better connections and also aid them in practical learning.

All university students should be given an oppurtunity to study abroad so they can be able to get guidance regarding their subjects from different mentors from different countries, not only would that help in getting more knowledge but can also be helpful in building connections that can be useful for future endeavors. Studying abroad can also help a student grow mentally as the new enviroment can bring forth new challenges they might have to face thus making them learn how to adapt to different situations and overall have a much greater impact on their problem solving skills.

Work placement is also important so that the students can get more work experience in their relevant fields. This will not only help them learn more but can also help in practical application of all that they have learned so far, this can help them build confidence in their skills. This approach can make them excel in the future when they are ready to officially step into their work life. You can take an example from when you prepare for a test. You can prepare all you want but if you dont know how to apply what you have learned you wont be able to score well or get the result you desired therefore meaning that application and practice is just as important as verbal learning.

In conclusion, I think that universitites should add studying abroard and work placements as part of their courses as this can help push students to learn and grow more. Students should be allowed to apply and test everything they have learned in a real work setting and this can be great way to do so as practical learning is just as important as verbal learning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you support including study abroad or work placements, and you give relevant reasons for both. The discussion of study abroad explains how exposure to different mentors and challenges could build knowledge, connections, and adaptability. The work-placement paragraph also links experience with practical application and confidence, with a test-preparation example to illustrate the point. However, the response does not directly weigh the advantages against disadvantages, which is central to the question. It presents benefits but does not identify or assess any drawbacks, such as cost or unequal access. Some claims, including that these experiences will help students “excel in the future,” would also benefit from more specific explanation or an example. Addressing both sides and making the comparison explicit would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your view, separate body paragraphs discuss study abroad and work placements, and the conclusion restates your position. Ideas generally progress in a sensible order, and linking phrases such as “This will not only…” and “In conclusion” help guide the reader. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some features of stronger progression. However, connections between ideas can feel mechanical because several sentences repeat “This can…” or “This will…”. The test-preparation example is relevant, but its link to workplace learning could be made more explicit. Also, the conclusion repeats earlier points rather than synthesising the comparison. Use a wider range of referencing and transitions, and ensure each example is clearly tied to the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including topic-relevant phrases such as “work placement,” “practical application,” “adapt to different situations,” and “problem solving skills.” There are also attempts at more specific expression, for example “future endeavors” and “relevant fields.” However, the range is somewhat repetitive, particularly with “help,” “learn,” and “students,” and some phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “go study abroad,” “verbal learning,” and “officially step into their work life.” Spelling errors are noticeable in “oppurtunity,” “enviroment,” “universitites,” and “abroard.” These do not prevent understanding, but they limit the accuracy and flexibility of the vocabulary. Aim for more precise collocations and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “as,” “so,” and “when,” and your meaning is generally clear. For example, the sentence explaining how a new environment can bring challenges shows an attempt to connect cause and result. Some grammatical errors remain. In “not only would that help … but can also be helpful,” the parallel structure is incomplete; use “but it could also help.” The sentence beginning “You can take an example from when…” becomes a run-on, with several ideas joined by commas, and “if you dont know … you wont be able” needs apostrophes and clearer punctuation. There are also awkward constructions such as “where they can go study abroad.” Greater control of parallel forms, sentence boundaries, and punctuation would improve accuracy.

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