Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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)

Numerous people believe that it would be beneficial for undergraduate students to include a period of time in their courses that was spent overseas to do a work placement. Although this approach might have some notable travel and financial barriers , in my view these challenges would have been tackled through effective strategic planning. That's why I believe that their benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Admittedly , if university curriculum contains some period of time for spending and doing work abroad it would have some noteworthy achievements. Firstly, pupils can obtain some practical knowledge and experience through working on real-time projects and situations that might be vary in classrooms. Similarly, students could learn about different cultures and languages by meeting with other students and professionals. Moreover, these international tours have contributed to their personal developments . For instance, students who spent some time studying abroad or doing work might be more confident, critical thinkers and have better communication skills as compared to other students . Therefore, these foreign studies and hands-on experiences have key deliverables for undergraduates.

On the other hand, studying abroad and working placement might present some concerns for individuals and institutions . Numerous students lack funding for these kinds of international tours. Furthermore, some students have part time jobs for their university expenses and other family problems that's why they can not be able to spend long time away from their homes. Moreover, universities might have limited links in international stage to do this type of courses. However, these challenges could be resolved with strategic thinking such as governments should offer scholarships for international tours and make agreements with foreign countries in the education field. Therefore, these issues could address with proper planning.

In conclusion, although universities and students might have some financial and travel barriers but these challenges would tackle with effective approach. Whereas , international studies and workplacement have impressive outcomes for pupils's careers and personal development that's why i believe their benefits would outweigh the drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction—“their benefits outweigh the drawbacks”—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address both sides of the question, explaining benefits such as practical experience, cultural learning and personal development, and drawbacks including funding, family responsibilities and universities’ limited international links. The examples of scholarships and agreements with foreign institutions also show how barriers might be addressed. This meets the task well, with relevant ideas extended and supported. To strengthen the response further, develop the comparison between the benefits and costs more explicitly: for example, explain why the career and personal gains are likely to outweigh the disruption or expense, and clarify whether the proposal should apply equally to study abroad and work placements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting benefits, a paragraph discussing drawbacks and solutions, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress logically, and signposting such as “Firstly,” “Moreover,” “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the argument. The position is also maintained across the essay. Some linking is repetitive or mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “Therefore” and “Moreover,” and the final paragraph repeats the introduction’s claim rather than drawing together the comparison. Improve cohesion by varying transitions and using clearer references between ideas—for instance, connect the proposed scholarships directly to the funding concern, then explain how this solution affects your overall judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “practical knowledge,” “critical thinkers,” “scholarships” and “personal development.” These choices help communicate the main points, and some less common expressions are attempted. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “noteworthy achievements” for the benefits of placements, “international tours” for study or work placements, and “key deliverables” for outcomes. “Workplacement” is also written as one word, and “pupils” is less suitable than “students” in a university context. Aim for precise, natural academic collocations and avoid using formal-sounding terms when their meaning does not fit. This would make the argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession in “Although this approach might have…” and conditional language about possible solutions. Meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make sentences awkward. For example, “if university curriculum contains … it would have” mixes conditional forms, while “these issues could address” is missing the passive auxiliary “be.” There are also agreement and sentence-construction problems in “family problems that’s why they can not be able,” and the conclusion contains an incomplete contrast beginning “Whereas.” Review conditional patterns, subject–verb agreement, passive forms and punctuation between linked clauses. More consistently accurate control of these structures would improve readability.

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