Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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)

Some argue that studying abroad or doing a work placement should be mandatory for all university bachelor's degrees. I firmly believe that disadvantages will outweigh the benefits. Because, some students cannot afford to live abroad and work-life balance combined with studies could heavily affect their mental health.

At a university, compared to the ones who have scholarships, a lot of student are paying the tuition fee by themselves combined with living costs as well. A mandatory period of studying abroad will be a financial burden on students. Therefore, such drastic decisions could be a reason for someone to give up their education. Even though a work placement provide necessary real-world experiences and financial support, it combined with studying and life could be stressful situation for a undergraduate student. For instance, I did volunteering work while I was in the university. After a few months, I had to gave up because there was no time to relax. Between work, study and daily activities I had no time to take care myself.

Studying abroad could benefit an undergraduate student in some ways. Adapting to new cultures, meeting new friends and experience what that country has to offer is a great life experience. Unfortunately, those experiences comes with a higher price tag. Therefore, this will affect negatively on a student financial side. A work placement is one of the quickest way to get experience in a students life. Not only some students are facing disabilities, some are mentally unable to manage everything at once. Therefore, it will be an unfair ask from undergraduate students.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that disadvantages will outweigh the advantages of studying abroad or doing a work placement during undergraduate studies because of the affordability to live abroad for a period and to keep healthy mental space.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction to the conclusion: you believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, chiefly because of cost and pressure on students’ wellbeing. You address both studying abroad and work placements, and the volunteering example gives relevant personal support. However, the two sides are not developed equally: the benefits are briefly acknowledged, but the essay does not explain in much detail why they are outweighed or consider how placements might be made accessible. Some claims, such as that students with disabilities or mental-health difficulties cannot manage these demands, need careful explanation rather than being presented broadly. Develop each main point with a specific consequence or example and make the comparison between benefits and drawbacks more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs discussing disadvantages and benefits, and a conclusion that restates your view. Linking expressions such as “Therefore,” “Even though,” and “For instance” help show relationships between ideas. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “Even though a work placement provide necessary real-world experiences and financial support, it combined with studying and life…” is difficult to follow, and the paragraph shifts between cost, stress, and your personal example without always making the progression explicit. The second body paragraph also moves from cultural benefits to cost and then to disability without a clear transition. Use topic sentences and clearer references to guide the reader through each paragraph’s central point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “financial burden,” “real-world experiences,” “adapting to new cultures,” and “mental health.” These phrases help communicate the main concerns and show some range beyond basic wording. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “affect negatively on a student financial side,” “healthy mental space,” and “an unfair ask.” There are also repeated general terms such as “student,” “experience,” and “affect,” which limit precision. Aim for more natural academic collocations and check possessive forms and word combinations. For instance, describe the financial impact directly and use established expressions for wellbeing and fairness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a concession with “Even though” and a “Not only” construction. The overall meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “a lot of student are,” “a work placement provide,” “those experiences comes,” and “I had to gave up,” involving agreement or verb-form control. Articles and sentence construction also need attention: “for a undergraduate student” is incorrect, while “Because, some students…” is an incomplete and incorrectly punctuated opening. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, verb forms after “to,” and article use. More accurate control of these patterns, alongside your attempts at complex sentences, would make the argument easier to read.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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