IELTS Essay Bank · Task 2 Academic · Advantages & disadvantages
Studying for a Degree Abroad: Band 7 Sample Essay
308 words · Topic: Education, Globalisation ·
The question
A growing number of students choose to leave their home country in order to complete a university degree in another part of the world.
Do the advantages of studying for a degree abroad outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words.
Band 7 sample essay
Highlighted = useful vocabularyIn recent decades, studying abroad has become a realistic option not only for wealthy families but for many ordinary students as well. Although spending several years in a foreign country involves real costs and difficulties, I believe that the advantages of gaining a degree overseas clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
The main advantage is academic. Some universities in countries such as the UK, Canada and Australia offer courses, laboratories and research opportunities that are not available in many students' home countries, and a degree from a well-regarded institution is often valued by employers. Moreover, studying abroad is a big chance to become fluent in another language, because students must use it for everything from lectures to shopping. These skills are very important in a job market that is becoming more and more international.
Another important advantage is personal growth. Living far from their families, young people have to take responsibility of their own finances, solve problems alone and adapt to an unfamiliar culture. This experience makes them more independent and gives them a cosmopolitan mindedness, and they often build a network of contacts from many different countries which can be very useful later in their career.
On the other hand, the disadvantages should not be ignored. The financial cost is the most serious one, since international students usually pays higher tuition fees than local students, in addition to rent and living expenses. Many students also experience loneliness and culture shock, especially in their first months, and this can effect their academic performance. There is also a risk of brain drain for the home country if the most talented graduates decides not to return.
In conclusion, while studying overseas is expensive and emotionally challenging, the academic, professional and personal advantages are more important. With enough preparation and financial planning, most students will find that the experience is a worthwhile investment.
Word count: 308
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Why this is Band 7: criterion by criterion
Task Response
Band 7The question is answered clearly: the writer states in the introduction that the advantages "clearly outweigh" the disadvantages and maintains this position to the end. Main ideas are extended and supported — academic quality is linked to employability, and personal growth is explained through specific responsibilities such as managing finances and adapting to a new culture. The disadvantages paragraph is fair and includes a less obvious point about brain drain. However, the essay over-generalises in places ("most students will find that the experience is a worthwhile investment") and never directly weighs the high cost against the benefits, which a Band 8 response would do.
Coherence and Cohesion
Band 7Ideas are logically organised, with two paragraphs of advantages followed by one of disadvantages, and each has a clear central topic stated in its first sentence. A range of cohesive devices is used appropriately ("Moreover", "On the other hand", "in addition to"), and referencing is mostly clear ("These skills", "This experience"). The opening "Living far from their families, young people…" shows controlled linking within sentences. There is a little over-reliance on "also" and "Another", but progression is clear throughout — Band 7.
Lexical Resource
Band 6This criterion is the weakest and sits at Band 6. The writer attempts less common vocabulary, but often with inaccuracy: "a big chance to become fluent" should be a great opportunity, "take responsibility of" should be take responsibility for, "a cosmopolitan mindedness" is a word-formation error (a cosmopolitan outlook), and "this can effect their academic performance" confuses effect with affect. There is also noticeable repetition of evaluative words: "important" appears three times and "useful" is used where a more precise word would help. Correct items such as "well-regarded institution", "culture shock" and "brain drain" show a good resource, but Band 7 requires these to be used with fewer errors and more awareness of collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Band 7A variety of complex structures is used with good control: a participle clause ("Living far from their families…"), concessive clauses ("Although spending several years…", "while studying overseas is expensive…"), a gerund subject and a conditional clause. Most sentences are error-free. There are two subject–verb agreement errors — "international students usually pays" (pay) and "if the most talented graduates decides" (decide) — but they do not affect meaning. Frequent error-free sentences with a few errors is the Band 7 descriptor.
Useful vocabulary and collocations
- well-regarded institution
- a university with a good reputation; more formal than famous university.
- adapt to an unfamiliar culture
- correct verb + preposition pattern (adapt to, not adapt with).
- a network of contacts
- a group of useful professional connections; useful for work and globalisation topics.
- culture shock
- the confusion people feel in a new culture; a precise term for this topic.
- brain drain
- the loss of skilled people who move to other countries; strong for any migration essay.
How this essay could reach Band 8
- 1Correct the lexical slips, which are the main thing holding this essay back: a great opportunity to, take responsibility for, a cosmopolitan outlook and affect (verb) versus effect (noun).
- 2Replace repeated "important" and "useful" with precise alternatives such as valuable, advantageous or in high demand.
- 3In the conclusion, weigh the cost directly against the benefits — for example, by arguing that scholarships reduce the cost while the career advantages last for decades — rather than simply stating that the advantages are "more important".
This is an original sample essay written by IELTS-Bank to illustrate Band 7 against the public IELTS Writing band descriptors. The band scores are our assessment, not an official IELTS result. IELTS-Bank is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment. "IELTS" is a registered trademark of its respective owners and is used here for descriptive purposes only.