Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-23

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)

In contemporary society, a substantial number of educational systems required learners to study one or more foreign languages. They believe that it is beneficial for the students to learn a foreign language. However, others believe that study a foreign language should not be a requirement. This essay will analyze whether learning one or more foreign languages is crucial or not.

Nowadays, educational institutions compel their students to learn a foreign language. They want their students to not only read but can write the language. They believe that children are quick learner; in addition, if they learn any new language from a very young age they are accustomed to that language. Moreover, in future, they will not have any difficulty when they want to move to that country. For instance, in China, although local population prefer to speak Chinese; however, some educational institutions offer students to learn English as a minor subject. Nevertheless, English is an international language and it will be beneficial for the youth of China to compete with the rest of the world by learning an international language .

In today's competitive world, it is of paramount importanct that a person must know one or more foreign languages apart of their native language. It has been seen that there are some jobs that required skills in foreign languages, thus if a person is fluent in that language he can acquire the job easily. Furthermore, if any country wants to boost tourism then his tourist guide must communicate in foreign languages so that they can understands the tourists' needs and problems.

On the other hand, some educational systems do not believe that learning a foreign language is necessary. Since every language has its grammar, alphabets, dialects; in addition, it is challenging for young learners to learn a foreign language.

To conclude, learners should not be compel by educators to learn any new language; instead, institutions must give them option whether they want to learn a foreign language or not. The underlying reason is that, if a person is unwilling to learn something it is very challenging for him to do that. Undeniably, learning a foreign language may sometime gives an advantage to a person in his life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both the benefits of learning languages and whether it should be part of education, and your conclusion gives a clear view: students should have a choice. Relevant benefits include access to employment, supporting tourism, and communicating internationally. However, the position develops unevenly: the opening asks whether language learning is “crucial or not,” while the conclusion argues against making it compulsory, and the essay does not fully explain how these points lead to that view. The paragraph on why some systems do not require languages mentions grammar and difficulty, but does not develop these as reasons or weigh them against the benefits. To strengthen the response, state your position consistently from the introduction and explain why choice is preferable despite the practical advantages you identify.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure, with an introduction, paragraphs presenting benefits and reservations, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress from early language learning to employment and tourism, and examples help make the discussion relevant. However, some links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “On the other hand” introduces a brief point about difficulty, but the paragraph does not clearly connect this concern to the final recommendation that students should choose. The China example also contains “although …; however,” which creates an awkward relationship between the ideas. Develop the counterargument in a fuller paragraph and use transitions to show how each point supports your position. Clearer referencing and fewer formulaic connectors would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “educational systems,” “international language,” “compete,” “fluent,” and “tourism.” Phrases such as “of paramount importance” show an attempt to use more formal language. However, several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision: “offer students to learn” is not a natural expression, “apart of their native language” is inaccurate, and “paramount importanct” contains a spelling error. Some wording is also repetitive, particularly repeated references to “foreign language” and “learn.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and vary repeated terms where appropriate. For example, use “provide students with the opportunity to study” and “in addition to their native language.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “although,” “if,” and “since,” and the main ideas are usually understandable. However, errors occur across verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. Examples include “systems required” where the present tense is needed, “children are quick learner,” and “they want their students to not only read but can write.” In the tourism sentence, “they can understands” has an agreement error, while “learners should not be compel” uses an incorrect passive form. Some long sentences also combine clauses awkwardly, as in “although …; however.” Review tense consistency, subject–verb agreement, and passive constructions, then check that paired structures such as “not only … but also” are grammatically parallel.

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