Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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 courses should include abroad study time or internship. Although it has some drawbacks, I believe its advantages considerably outweigh the negative one. This essay will examine some drawbacks and advantages of this before reaching a logical conclusion.

Admittedly, one disadvantages of this development is that students feel difficulty in managing time and cost some extra money. This means if work placement is included in the course, it arises difficulty for student in maintaining their studies along with work. If it include a period of time studying abroad, it costs more money for the visa, rent, food, etcetera. While there these issues are valid they are relatively minor when view in a broader context.

Nevertheless, I believe the benefit is particularly more significant because it helps to gain some practical knowledge, experience and a chance to know the different culture This means students get a handful experience of the field while studing. In addition, students also get chance to know, understand other countries culture and able to survive in difficult conditions without their parents. This leads students, to manage their work life balance, get experience of real world, learn how to survive alone and feel easy during real work. Consequently, these positive outcomes bring significant value to individual.

In conclusion, although this causes some sort of stress and spend some extra money for students, these issues are manageable with proper planning and by getting scholarship. The monumental practical experience and the chance to get knowledge of different culture mean that benefit of including foreign study time and internship in undergraduate courses clearly outward the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction: you believe the advantages “considerably outweigh” the disadvantages, and the conclusion returns to that view. You address both sides with relevant points, including the extra costs and time pressures, as well as practical experience, cultural understanding, and independence. The examples are appropriate, but several benefits are asserted rather than explained in depth. For instance, you say students learn to “survive in difficult conditions” and manage work-life balance, but do not show how a placement or overseas study develops these abilities or give a concrete example. The disadvantages are also treated briefly. More specific explanation and support for each main point would make the argument more fully developed and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for disadvantages and advantages, and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Admittedly,” “Nevertheless,” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the argument, and the reader can follow your main position. However, some connections feel mechanical, and a few sentences do not flow smoothly. The repeated “This means” constructions make the explanation sound formulaic, while “While there these issues are valid” interrupts the transition between the cost examples and your evaluation. The advantages paragraph also combines several ideas—experience, culture, independence, and work-life balance—without clearly separating or prioritising them. Use clearer references and develop one main idea at a time to strengthen progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “practical knowledge,” “work placement,” “scholarship,” and “real world,” and you attempt some less common expressions such as “monumental practical experience.” However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision. Examples include “abroad study time,” “a handful experience,” “know the different culture,” and “outward the disadvantages”; these make parts of the argument less clear or sound non-idiomatic. There are also spelling errors such as “studing.” Aim to learn common word partnerships and check word forms and spelling. More accurate phrases such as “study abroad,” “hands-on experience,” and “outweigh the disadvantages” would make your ideas clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a concession in “Although it has some drawbacks” and conditional structures such as “if work placement is included.” This gives the response some structural variety, and the overall meaning is generally understandable. However, errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction remain noticeable. For example, “one disadvantages” should be “one disadvantage,” “it include” needs subject–verb agreement, and “students also get chance” needs an article. The sentence beginning “This means if work placement…” is awkwardly constructed, and the sentence about understanding other countries’ culture lacks a clear grammatical structure. Review agreement and articles, and edit complex sentences to ensure each clause is complete and correctly connected.

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