Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-15

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people believe that professionals, such as doctors and engineers, should be required to work in the country where they did their training. Others believe they should be free to work in another country if they wish.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Living in a country where communication takes place predominantly in a foreign language can be a daunting experience. While some people are able to overcome this barrier relatively quickly, others may face considerable difficulties in both their social and everyday lives. I strongly agree that professionals can give rise to serious problems, particularly in relation to social integration and access to essential services.

One significant consequence of being unable to communicate effectively in the local language is social isolation. Language is not merely a means of exchanging information; it is also fundamental to forming relationships and becoming part of a community. People with limited language proficiency may find it difficult to participate in conversations, make friends or understand cultural norms, which can leave them feeling excluded and disconnected. This problem can be particularly pronounced among newly arrived immigrants, who may already be unfamiliar with the customs and social expectations of their new country.

Language difficulties can also create serious practical obstacles in everyday life. Essential tasks such as visiting a doctor, dealing with government agencies, signing a tenancy agreement or applying for employment often require a clear understanding of complex information. A misunderstanding in these situations can have significant consequences. For example, a person with limited English proficiency may misunderstand a doctor’s instructions or fail to provide an accurate description of their symptoms, potentially affecting the quality of medical care they receive. Similarly, difficulties understanding employment contracts or official documents can leave immigrants vulnerable to financial loss or exploitation.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that living in a country where a foreign language is required can cause serious social and practical difficulties. Language barriers can restrict social integration and create obstacles when accessing essential services; however, effective language education and community support can significantly reduce these challenges over time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for a discussion on whether professionals like doctors and engineers should be required to work in their home countries after training. Your essay discusses the challenges of living in a country where a foreign language is spoken. Because you have failed to address the specific prompt provided, the task achievement score is severely impacted. You have written a coherent essay, but it does not answer the question asked in the instructions. To improve, ensure you carefully analyze the prompt and identify the core topic before beginning your draft.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Despite the essay being off-topic, the internal structure is quite strong. You use clear paragraphing and logical progression. Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, and you use cohesive devices such as 'One significant consequence', 'For example', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader through your argument. The flow of ideas is logical and easy to follow, demonstrating a good grasp of how to organize a formal response. If the content had matched the prompt, this would be a high-scoring section.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'predominantly', 'daunting experience', 'proficiency', and 'exploitation' accurately. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic context. You show a good awareness of collocation and style. While the content is irrelevant to the prompt, the lexical quality itself is quite high, showing an ability to express complex ideas with precision and variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as in 'While some people are able to overcome this barrier relatively quickly, others may face considerable difficulties'. Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors throughout the text. The control over sentence structure is consistent, and the writing is error-free for the most part, which is indicative of a high level of grammatical competence.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.