Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-01

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 7.5)

In many countries, learning a foreign language is an essential part of school education, while in others it is optional. Although studying another language can require considerable time and effort, I believe it is an important part of education because it provides both academic and practical benefits.

One major advantage of learning a foreign language is that it improves communication. In today’s globalised world, people frequently travel, study and work in other countries. Being able to speak another language allows individuals to communicate with a wider range of people and can create better educational and employment opportunities. For example, a student who speaks English fluently may be able to study at an international university or apply for jobs in multinational companies.

Another important benefit is that language learning can increase cultural awareness. When students learn a foreign language, they often become familiar with the traditions, values and lifestyles of people from other countries. This can help them become more open-minded and respectful towards cultural differences. Furthermore, learning a second language can improve memory, concentration and problem-solving skills because students regularly practise remembering new vocabulary and applying grammatical rules.

In my view, foreign language study should be included in school curricula, particularly from an early age. Children generally have more opportunities to develop pronunciation and speaking skills when they start learning young. Although not every student will use a foreign language professionally, the communication skills, cultural understanding and mental abilities gained from language learning can benefit them throughout their lives.

In conclusion, foreign language education offers significant personal, academic and professional advantages, making it a valuable component of modern education.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by identifying potential benefits, such as improved communication, increased cultural awareness, and enhanced cognitive skills, while maintaining a clear and consistent position throughout that foreign language study is an important part of education. Ideas are well extended and supported with relevant examples, such as 'a student who speaks English fluently may be able to study at an international university'. To reach the highest tier, the response could provide even deeper, more nuanced analysis of the broader societal impacts rather than relying primarily on individual benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting smoothly from the introduction into body paragraphs introduced by logical signposts like 'One major advantage' and 'Another important benefit'. Cohesive devices are used flexibly without being mechanical. Paragraphing is managed appropriately to separate distinct arguments. To achieve an even higher standard, the progression between paragraphs could feature more sophisticated transitional links that weave ideas together invisibly rather than relying on standard enumerative markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, successfully incorporating less common items with an awareness of style and collocation, such as 'globalised world', 'multinational companies', and 'school curricula'. Word choice is generally appropriate and allows the message to be conveyed accurately. Occasional reliance on standard phrases prevents the lexicon from being truly wide and fluid. To elevate this criterion, the writer could integrate more sophisticated idiomatic expressions or precise academic phrasing, such as 'linguistic proficiency' or 'cognitive agility'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of control. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring well-constructed conditional and subordinate clauses such as 'When students learn a foreign language, they often become familiar with...'. Verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation are handled with strong accuracy throughout. To move towards the top band, the writer could incorporate even more diverse syntactic patterns, such as inverted structures or advanced participial phrases, while maintaining absolute error-free precision.

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