Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-17

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)

in todays competitive world, practical experience is as important as theoretical knowledge. some people believe that all undergraduate students should study abroad or complete a work placement. in my opinion, the advantages of this approach outweigh the disadvantages.

one major advantage of studying abroad is that student can experience different cultures and educational systems. this helps them become more confident and open minded. moreover, interactiing with people from different backgrounds can improve their communication skills. for example, students studying in foreign countries may learn new abilities of solving problems, which can benefit their future careers.

another important benefit is that work placements provide valuable practical experience. although universities teach essential theoretical concepts, however students also need to apply their knowledge in real life situations. for instance, physiotherapy students can develop their skills by working with experienced professionals. this experience can also increace their employment opportunities because employers often prefer candidates with practical knowledge.

however, there are some disadvantages to this proposal. studying abroad can be expensive, as student must pay for travel, accommodation and other living expenses. additionally, some students may find it diificult to leave their families. nevertheless, universities should address these challenges by offering scholarships and arranging suitable work placements.

in conculsion, although studying abroad or completing a work placements can create financial and personal challenges, i believe the advantages are greater. these opportunities help students develop essential skills, gain practical xperience and prepare for their future careers. therefore, universities should make such programmes and provide scholarships accessible to all underggraduate students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: you believe the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and the conclusion reinforces this view. You address both sides of the question, explaining cultural and communication benefits, the value of practical experience, and costs and separation from family as drawbacks. The physiotherapy example helps make the work-placement point concrete. This is a well-focused response with relevant ideas and support. To strengthen it further, develop the disadvantages and your response to them in more detail: scholarships may reduce costs, but the essay does not explain how universities could address students’ family concerns or ensure placements are suitable. Some benefits, such as improved career prospects, are asserted rather than fully illustrated.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall progression: introduction and position, two paragraphs on advantages, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a concluding summary. Each paragraph has a recognisable central purpose, and linking expressions such as “moreover,” “for example,” “nevertheless,” and “in conclusion” help guide the reader. The argument is easy to follow throughout. To make the organisation more polished, vary the way ideas are connected rather than relying mainly on explicit transition words, and make the relationship between claims and examples more precise. For instance, the example of physiotherapy supports practical experience, but a sentence explaining how that experience translates into employment would create a smoother logical link. Avoid using “although” and “however” together in the same clause.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “theoretical knowledge,” “educational systems,” “communication skills,” “practical experience,” and “employment opportunities.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and some topic-specific language helps the response feel relevant. However, there are spelling errors and occasional imprecise or awkward expressions, such as “new abilities of solving problems” and “make such programmes … accessible.” These limit the accuracy and flexibility of the vocabulary. Proofread carefully for forms such as “interacting,” “increase,” and “experience,” and aim for more natural collocations. More precise wording for the benefits and challenges would help you express ideas with greater control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses in “although universities teach essential theoretical concepts” and “because employers often prefer candidates with practical knowledge.” Most sentences remain understandable, and the argument is not impeded by the grammatical errors. Some errors in sentence construction and agreement remain: “although … however” combines two contrasting structures unnecessarily, “student can experience” needs a plural or an article, and “a work placements” has inconsistent number. There are also issues with articles and sentence-initial capitalisation. To move beyond this level, check agreement, singular and plural forms, and clause structure systematically, while continuing to use complex sentences accurately.

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