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?

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Sample Response

1

Nowadays, the debate surrounding whether all university undergraduate courses should include a period of time spent studying abroad or doing a work placement has generated significant discussion among educatorshas emerged as a controversial issue in contemporary society. From my perspective,I believe that students should keep a balance between studying overseas and doing work.

2

On the one hand, there are several advantages of students studying abroad. A primary benefit is thatThe most important reason is that students who study in other countries can meet classmatesstudying in other countries can meet classmates from different backgrounds,which can allow them to learn morecan allowing them learn more knowledge about various cultures they encounterabout various cultures you want to know. For instance,the experience of living alone in a foreign country is important,which not only strengthensstrengthen their communication skills,but can also develop the habit of saving money. However,living abroad could be dangerous,because there are many countries are falling into war, they do notdon’t have enough experience to ensure their personal safety.

3

In addition to international study, securing future employmentOn the other hand,future employment is an unavoidableunignored challenge for young people. In this regard, acquiring professional experienceOne of the main reasons is that work experience can help students gain practical skills,which areis important for their future careers. This is mainly because students can learn how to communicate with colleagues and deal with workplace challengesdifferent problems in the work place. As a result,they will have a competitive advantagehave more advantages when looking for jobs after graduation.

4

In conclusion, I believe that both studying abroad and doing work placements have their own benefits, so universities should provide students with opportunities to experience both, which can help them develop different skills and prepare for their future careers.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 5.5

The essay addresses the general theme of study abroad and work placements, presenting understandable main points for both options. However, it misinterprets the prompt's focus by contrasting the two options rather than evaluating whether making them mandatory offers benefits that outweigh the drawbacks. To improve, explicitly state whether the total benefits exceed the negatives of mandatory requirements and refine sentence structure to eliminate grammar errors.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

5.0
Scoring rule

The response addresses aspects of study abroad and work placements, but it treats them as a choice between options rather than directly evaluating if the advantages of mandatory implementation outweigh the disadvantages.

Next step

Directly answer the question asked by comparing overall advantages against disadvantages and keeping this focus consistent from the introduction to the conclusion.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0
Scoring rule

The essay is divided into logical paragraphs with clear main ideas in each body section, though some transitions between points feel slightly mechanical.

Next step

Improve logical flow between sentences by using natural linking phrases and ensuring proper spacing after punctuation.

LR

Lexical Resource

6.0
Scoring rule

The vocabulary used is adequate to convey the central ideas, though word choices are occasionally awkward or repetitive.

Next step

Expand word variety and refine word partnerships by avoiding imprecise collocations such as unignored challenge.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.0
Scoring rule

While the main message remains understandable, there are frequent structural errors such as stacked verbs, ungrammatical clause connections, and punctuation oversights.

Next step

Focus on correctly structuring complex sentences, paying special attention to relative clauses and avoiding double main verbs within a single clause.