Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

All university undergraduate curricula should include a short time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement. In my view, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, which will be discussed in the upcoming paragraphs.

To begin with, a well-rounded education should include both academic knowledge and practical experience. Universities should implement a period of time spent studying abroad for all undergraduate courses, as there are many benefits, such as cultural enhancement. Learning in a different culture can significantly improve the learner's knowledge, which is beneficial for the curriculum. For example, a student doing an internship abroad will make new friends and share their culture. Both learners will gain knowledge about different cultures and languages, which will further lead to improved knowledge and it also improve communication skills.

Furthermore, there are also many benefits of doing a work placement. One important advantage is that it improves practical skills and professional experience. Doing a work placement can improve practical skills, as students will learn from real-life experiences. Learners will learn from professionals, which will help students in gaining professional knowledge. For example, nursing students are posted in the hospital, where they learn practical skills by applying their knowledge to real patients, which increases their practical skills. Also, they learn from experienced staff, such as the head nurse, which is beneficial for professional experience.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to this. One of the major problems is the cost of studying abroad. Students have to spend a large amount of money on travelling and other personal expenses. Moreover, another problem is the visa. A visa is required to travel abroad, which can further lead to extra costs for students.

To conclude, university coarces should include a period of time spent studying abroad because it can provide many benefits such as cultural knowledge and practical skills. Also, there are some drawbacks, such as cost of living. According to me, benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction to the conclusion: you believe the advantages outweigh the drawbacks. You address both sides and give relevant examples, particularly the nursing placement, which shows how practical experience can support professional learning. The discussion of cultural benefits is also relevant, but the example of making friends and sharing cultures does not fully explain how this improves students’ academic or career outcomes. The disadvantages are less developed: cost and visa requirements are identified, but their effects are not explored or weighed against the benefits. To strengthen the response, explain these points further and make the comparison between advantages and disadvantages more explicit. The response contains 18 words copied from the task prompt; these were not counted in the authoritative length check.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. Sequencing is generally easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “Furthermore,” and “On the other hand” help show the direction of the argument. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical: “benefits,” “practical skills,” and “knowledge” recur several times, and the second benefits paragraph repeats the claim that placements improve practical skills. Some references are also imprecise, as in “Both learners,” where the people being referred to are not clearly identified. For stronger progression, organise each paragraph around a distinct point, develop it once with explanation and evidence, and use clearer references rather than repeating the same claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to education and employment, including “undergraduate curricula,” “cultural enhancement,” “professional experience,” and “real-life experiences.” These choices communicate the main ideas, but the range is limited by repeated general terms such as “benefits,” “knowledge,” and “practical skills.” Some expressions are also inaccurate or unnatural: “cultural enhancement” is unclear in this context, and “posted in the hospital” is not the usual way to describe nursing students undertaking placements. The misspelling “coarces” in the conclusion also weakens accuracy. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated wording—for example, describe cultural awareness, workplace competence, or clinical training where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple sentences and longer structures, including subordinate clauses with “as,” “which,” and “where.” Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. In “it also improve communication skills,” the verb should agree with “it” (“improves”), while “Both learners will gain” is unclear in reference and number. The sentence beginning “For example, a student doing an internship abroad…” also shifts from a singular student to “Both learners” without clearly establishing the second person. There are some awkwardly joined clauses, especially in the long nursing example. To improve control, check subject–verb agreement and pronoun references, and divide long sentences when they contain several linked ideas.

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