Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-13

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)

One group believes in learning one or more foreign languages, while another thinks knowing a foreign language is not necessary. Learning a foreign language offers benefits, keeping your culture alive and as Important as your identity.

Learning a foreign language allows exploring people and new job opportunities. For example. As people know, English is an international language and they can get jobs anywhere in the world if they learn English well. So it helps them to understand others and work with a variety of people at work.

Another benefit is to start or explore your business in other countries, it's important to learn their language before making any deal with them. So, it allows people to understand their culture and lifestyle.

In my opinion, learning one or more languages is

Important to learn. People are very active and innovative nowadays. However, it is also important for people to keep their culture with them through language. If people forget their own culture and language then their cultural identity will be lost.

In conclusion, learning a language is important for cultural values and identity is equally important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student addresses both parts of the prompt by discussing the potential benefits of foreign language study and giving an opinion on whether it is an important part of education. However, the response is severely limited by its length. At 185 words, it falls well short of the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the ideas are under-developed and lack sufficient extension and support. While the student touches on career opportunities and cultural identity, points like starting a business are stated rather than fully explored. Because the length requirement is not met, a significant penalty is applied here, restricting the band score to Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text is organized into logical paragraphs, with a discernible introduction, body paragraphs addressing different benefits, an opinion paragraph, and a brief conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'For example' and 'Another benefit is' are used to structure the text, though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or abrupt. Referencing is generally clear, but the lack of substantial development limits the flow of complex ideas. Paragraphing is present and appropriate for the short length of the text. Overall, the organization demonstrates adequate coherence for a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, utilizing terms such as 'international language', 'cultural identity', and 'innovative'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'keeping your culture alive and as Important as your identity' and 'start or explore your business'. Some words are unnecessarily capitalized ('Important'). The vocabulary is minimally adequate to convey the core message, but repetition of words like 'important' and 'language' limits flexibility, placing the lexical resource clearly within the Band 5.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response features a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, such as 'If people forget their own culture and language then their cultural identity will be lost.' However, control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There is a sentence fragment ('For example. As people know...') and punctuation errors regarding capitalization. Attempts at complex structures are sometimes awkward or repetitive. Errors occur frequently enough to occasionally cause slight hesitation for the reader, though they do not completely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 5.0 score.

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

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