Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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)

It is argued that all undergraduate degree programs ought to include a period of international study program or work placement. Although this strategy may cause financial problems and disturbance in study schedule for some students, I think its advantages outweigh its disavantages because it provides students with a chance to experience real-world problems and expanded opportunities for career and study abroad.

The main advantage of this approach is that it enables students to gain practical experience in real-world workplaces. They become able to utilize their academic knowledge in relevant fields. It can polish their practical skills and talents. Moreover, this strategy provides a wide range of career opportunities for pupils as it develops communication ad problem-solving skills among them. Learners can interact with different cultures and educational systems of foreign countries which can open the door for further abroad study and work. For instance, International lab or industrial exposure can provide many practical skills and research opportunites for chemistry students.

Despite these benefits, this requirement may include travel and accomadation expenses which all students can not afford. This can place a heavy burden and limit the opportunities for middle-class students. Also, work placement and exchange programms can disrupt the academic schedule of a student which may result in delay in completion of their degree. Universities should provide local placements and financial assisstance to deserving students so that this strategy can provide all students with equal and beneficial opportunities.

In conclusion, although work placement and compulsory exchange programs may create financial difficulties and distrupt academic balance, I believe that their benefits outweigh the drawbacks, as they yp rovide valuable practical eperience and improve future career prospects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction: you believe the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, and the conclusion maintains this view. You address both sides of the question, identifying practical experience, career prospects and costs or disruption to study. The chemistry example also helps make one benefit more concrete. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, you mention improved communication and problem-solving skills without showing how a placement develops them, and the effect of schedule disruption is not explored in detail. The proposed remedies—local placements and financial assistance—are relevant, but their feasibility or impact could be explained further. This covers the task well overall, while fuller development and support would make the argument more consistently convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages and solutions, and a conclusion. The progression from benefits to drawbacks is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Moreover,” “Despite these benefits,” and “In conclusion” help readers navigate the argument. Some linking is a little mechanical, however, and several ideas are placed together without showing their precise relationship. For instance, the move from practical skills to career opportunities and then to overseas study could be connected through a clearer explanation of cause and effect. The reference in “this strategy” is also broad, as it could mean either overseas study or work placement. More varied transitions and clearer links between claims and examples would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “practical experience,” “problem-solving skills,” “academic schedule,” and “financial difficulties,” which communicates the main ideas effectively. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “a heavy burden” and “career prospects.” However, inaccurate word choice, collocation and spelling are noticeable and sometimes make the writing less natural: “international study program” is awkward in this context, “communication ad problem-solving skills” contains a spelling error, and “expanded opportunities for career and study abroad” is not idiomatic. Other spelling slips include “disavantages,” “accomadation,” and “opportunites.” Aim for precise, natural combinations such as “study-abroad programme,” “career opportunities,” and “accommodation costs,” and proofread carefully to improve control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concessive opening (“Although this strategy may cause…”) and a relative clause (“which may result in delay…”). Most sentences remain understandable, and errors rarely prevent the reader from following your argument. Some grammatical patterns are not fully controlled, though. In “all students can not afford,” the modal and negative are awkwardly ordered; “all students cannot afford” or “not all students can afford” would be clearer. The phrase “which can open the door” has an unclear reference, and “result in delay in completion” needs more accurate article and noun phrasing. The final sentence also contains a corrupted phrase (“yp rovide”). Continue practising accurate clause reference, articles and sentence proofreading while retaining your varied structures.

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