Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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)

If all university undergraduate students can get the opportunity to go abroad as an exchange student and have that kind of career-building exposure than it is an incredible innitiative that all universities should take. About the work placement, I think it will help fresh graduates to start working and not face unemployment right after they are launched into the professional market which can cause demotivation and depression in younger generations.

There can be many advantages and disadvantages to this approach. Firstly, I think students that are hardworking and qualify acadamically should be the ones amoungst all, that get to go abroad and represent their university and country.

Many universities including my university which is NUST university in Islamabad has this policy where serious students who really want this experience, apply for exchange programs and are selected on the basis of their academic excellence. A healthy competition is neccessary so students fight for the best opportunities. If they are given everything on a silver platter they wont acknowledge the impotance of such opportunities.

Secondly, not all undergraduates are comfortable enough to go abroad for work placement. They might need more time to see where they stand and if they want to continue their profesional life in their own country. So universities can not make it compulsary for all students. Some might not have te same plans.

Overall, this will give all the students immense exposure and help them in their grooming process but it is impotant that students work hard for such opportunities. This can be a great initiative taken from all universities for the betterment of the students and to produce future leaders.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a relevant response and express a generally positive view, especially in the opening and conclusion, where you describe overseas study and placements as beneficial for students’ exposure and development. You also identify a genuine concern: some students may not feel ready to work abroad or may prefer to build a career in their own country. However, the task asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, and this comparison is not made clearly or consistently. The discussion of academic selection and competition is relevant but does not explain the overall balance of benefits and drawbacks. Develop the advantages and disadvantages with specific consequences or examples, then state directly why one side outweighs the other.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs signalled by “Firstly” and “Secondly,” and a concluding paragraph. The ideas are generally understandable, and the example of NUST gives the discussion a personal reference point. However, progression is not always clear: the first body paragraph shifts from who should qualify for overseas study to competition and students taking opportunities for granted, without fully connecting these points to the question of whether advantages outweigh disadvantages. The conclusion also repeats the general benefits rather than resolving the comparison. Use clearer topic sentences and link each paragraph’s main point to your overall position. More precise referencing and transitions would make the argument feel less list-like.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “career-building exposure,” “academic excellence,” “healthy competition,” and “professional market.” These choices help communicate ideas about education and employment, and the meaning remains clear despite some inaccurate spelling and word choice. A few expressions are awkward or imprecise, such as “launched into the professional market,” “fight for the best opportunities,” and “grooming process.” Spelling errors such as “innitiative,” “acadamically,” and “neccessary” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural academic collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, describe graduates as “entering the labour market” and students as “competing for opportunities,” while retaining the relevant ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures such as “If they are given everything on a silver platter…” and a relative clause in “which can cause demotivation and depression.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, and errors rarely prevent understanding. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain, however. In the opening, “than” should be “then” in the conditional construction, and “students that are hardworking and qualify academically should be the ones … that get to go” has an awkward, overextended clause structure. There are also missing apostrophes in “wont” and “can not,” and “not have the same plans” needs the article “the.” Review conditional punctuation, clause construction, and apostrophes, and vary complex sentences while keeping them controlled.

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