Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-19

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 degrees and diplomas must include some period of time doing work placement or studying abroad for high-school undergraduates. I firmly believe that the advantages of this would outweigh the disadvantages as an individual learns discipline and independence through this but being home sick and far away from the family and friends is quite difficult.

Doing a professional year abroad proves to be beneficial in many ways. When a pupil studies abroad, manages work and household duties together, they acquire numerous traits like discipline, time- management and independently doing each task. For instance, a student learns time management by giving considering all the tasks that need attention and leaves some for tomorrow. The individual manages breakfast, work and house chores and does not waste time in activities that lack practical values by which they learn discipline.

However; staying away from home requires strong emotional regulation which is extremely difficult as a person gets home sick and alone and there is no one to talk to or share things. Additionally, there is no one to take care of during periods of sickness, which makes a person miss home more. For example, some studies show that spending most of the time alone increases the chance to develop depression and anxiety as human is a social animal and cannot fucntional efficiently in places where there is no emotional support and known people. This however can be improved by talking to family members and friends regularly and managing your emotions with taking out time for your own self.

In conclusion, if a person learns to manages emotions and spends time in some leisure activities, they can survive abroad and acquire many beneficial qualities which have long term benefits like time management and discipline in future practical situations, due to which i believe that the advantages of studies or doing a job abroad outweighs its disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear: you believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks, and you address both the value of placements and the emotional difficulty of being away. The discussion of discipline and time management is relevant, while homesickness, illness and limited emotional support provide a counterargument. The conclusion also returns to your view. However, the response shifts from the prompt’s university undergraduates to “high-school undergraduates” and “pupil,” which makes the target group less precise. Some support is also underdeveloped: the example about planning tasks is general, and the claim about studies linking isolation with depression is not explained or connected in detail to placements. More specific examples and fuller comparison of the two sides would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph for advantages, a paragraph for disadvantages and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “However” helps the reader follow the change in viewpoint, and the final paragraph restates your position. This coherent arrangement is a strength. Some links are less smooth or precise, though. “This however can be improved” has an unclear reference, since it could refer to homesickness, illness or emotional regulation. The first body paragraph also moves quickly from managing duties to choosing tasks for tomorrow and avoiding activities, without making each connection explicit. Use clearer referencing and develop each paragraph around a more consistently linked sequence of claim, explanation and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “discipline,” “time management,” “emotional regulation,” “leisure activities” and “emotional support.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and some less common expressions show an attempt to be precise. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “professional year abroad,” “giving considering,” “home sick,” and “practical values.” There are also spelling and form errors, including “fucntional” and “i.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the overall argument, but they reduce naturalness and precision. Aim to learn vocabulary in common combinations and check spelling and word forms carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional and subordinate clauses, as in “if a person learns to manages emotions…” and “as human is a social animal.” The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make sentences awkward. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “the advantages … outweighs,” the verb form in “learns to manages,” and missing or incorrect articles in “as human is a social animal.” The sentence beginning “When a pupil studies abroad” also shifts from singular “a pupil” to plural “they,” and punctuation around “However” is inconsistent. Review agreement, infinitive forms, articles and punctuation, then proofread complex sentences to ensure their parts fit together.

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