Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-03
IELTS Writing Task 2 question
In some educational systems, children are required to study one or more foreign languages. In others, foreign language study is not a requirement. What are the potential benefits of foreign language study?
Do you think foreign language study is an important part of education?
Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
learning multiple languages are helping our career in our future. Some people believe that children are required to study one or more foreign languages. While others argue that, foreign language study is not a requirement. I believe that, learning more language is very essential.
There are many advantages to learning more foreign languages. Firstly, It is very helpful for our future. Because when we move into the foreign country for higher study, It will help to communicate with them. Secondly, It will help to gain the knowledge regarding the country culture and history. we can easily socialize with each and everyone. For instance, our native language is Tamil. If we learn English in our childhood , It will help our higher study in UK.
In my opinion, having knowledge of another language can be a valuable skill in both personal and professional life. For instance, many young people in Sri Lanka learn English because it is useful for higher education and employment opportunities.
In conclusion, learning a foreign language can improve communication, mental abilities and cultural understanding. I strongly believe that it should be an important part of education because it prepares students for greater opportunities in an increasingly international world.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the benefits of language study and the opinion on its importance. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are presented in a somewhat superficial manner. The points regarding communication and cultural understanding are valid, but they lack the necessary development and supporting detail required for a higher band. The position is clear, but the overall development is constrained by the brevity of the response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. There is a clear progression of ideas, although the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical (e.g., 'Firstly', 'Secondly'). The use of cohesive devices is present but basic. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the lack of length makes the overall structure feel somewhat underdeveloped. Improving the flow between sentences by using more sophisticated linking words would enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. The student relies on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'learning more language' and 'very helpful'. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'higher education' and 'employment opportunities', but these are limited. To achieve a higher band, the student should aim to use a wider range of collocations and more precise academic vocabulary. The current range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('learning multiple languages are helping') and incorrect article usage ('move into the foreign country'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas after 'that' and 'argue that'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall quality of the writing. The student needs to focus on basic grammatical accuracy and sentence construction to improve.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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