More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
Sample Response
It is true that the number of students who choose to study overseas has increased rapidly in the past few years. Studying in a foreign country has its own benefits and drawbackspositive and negative sides, but I personally believe that it has more benefits for the students themselves.
On the one hand, some believe that the choice of studying abroad hashave some disadvantages. One of the reasons is that studying overseas will cost more than studying in theirthe home country. It is necessary for parents to spend more money on airfaresairplane tickets, accommodationaccommodations, foodfoods and clothes, in addition to tuition feesbesides tuition fees and uniforms. Another reason is that students might be unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the culture, environment and language of the new country. As a consequence, it might have a negative effect on their mental well-beingmental condition and academic performance. Adapting toAdopting in a new environment often hampers the continuity of their studiesnatural flow of study for many students and some students interrupt their studies to earn moneysome students do not continue their study to earn money when they are abroad.
On the other hand, another group of people think that studying in another country brings many benefits toso many positive aspects for the students themselves. Firstly, by studying in a new country, students will have a chance to learn new languages and new cultures. Secondly, students will learn how to livelearn about how to live independently, such as cleaning their own roomslike cleaning their own rooms or doing the laundry by themselves. Thirdly, they cancould make new friends with people from other countries and becomeget familiar with multicultural environments. Lastly, it is a fact that in certain countries, an international graduate certificate provides additional valueinternational graduate certificate gives additional values when the students search for jobs.
In conclusion, it is undeniable that the choice to studythe preference of studying in a foreign country has its own benefits and drawbacks. Despite all the disadvantages, I believe that it has more advantages for students; therefore,the students themselves, therefore young people should be encouraged to study in a new country. Although some of them might have difficulty paying the fees,Although some of them might have difficulties with the fees, but many international scholarships are offered these days.
Why this response received Band 6.5
The essay maintains a clear view that studying abroad is more beneficial and covers financial, cultural, personal, and career consequences in a logical structure. Its main limitation is that the benefits are mostly listed rather than weighed explicitly against the drawbacks, while recurring word-choice and grammar errors reduce precision. Prioritise developing one or two benefits in depth and explaining why they outweigh cost and adjustment difficulties.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The response addresses benefits and drawbacks and maintains a clear judgement, but the advantages are often listed rather than comparatively evaluated.
Explain why long-term independence or career value outweighs the temporary financial and cultural difficulties described.
Coherence and Cohesion
The essay progresses logically through a balanced four-paragraph structure, although sequencing within the benefits paragraph is somewhat mechanical.
Group related benefits into developed themes instead of relying on Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly, and Lastly.
Lexical Resource
The vocabulary range is adequate for the topic, but frequent inaccurate collocations and countable-noun forms reduce precision.
Use natural forms such as accommodation, food, adapting to a new environment, employment prospects, and an international degree.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Simple and complex sentences generally convey the argument clearly, but agreement, articles, clause linking, and concession structures contain recurring errors.
Correct patterns such as the choice has disadvantages and Although fees are high, many scholarships are available.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.