Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Yes, i do agree with this statement. Speaking Foreign languages in a country can cause serious social problems as well as practical problems. Majority of the population dont understand foreign languages which can create problem in explaining your position to others. Although the technology has made the life of people easy and somehow, they can use the cell phones or any other technology to explain their language to others but obviously it will take time to explain each and every thing. Let me give you an example of my own life. Last year i visited Germany, may language was English but in Germany their national language is German and majority of the population understand and talk in German Language. Upon my arrival, the first problem i faced was to book a taxi. It was very difficult to explain the taxi driver regarding my destination. However, i explained him through the Google maps and somehow i reached there. When i was entering the hotel, on reception desk, the receptionist asked about my identity documents and booking details. She was talking in German and i dont understand her language. It took around 10 to 15 minutes to understand their language. At the end, she called her manager who was able to talk in english and finally after 30 minutes i was allowed to enter the room. I was in Germany for two months and each day i have faced different problems due to the language barrier. This is the reason i fully support and agree with this statement.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

Your position is clear from the opening (“I do agree”) and reinforced at the end, and the Germany visit gives relevant, specific support for the practical difficulties of communicating. However, the response focuses almost entirely on practical problems: the taxi and hotel examples do not explain the social problems mentioned in the prompt, such as isolation or difficulty forming relationships. The claim that you faced different problems each day is also not illustrated or developed. In addition, the response is 246 words, four words below the required minimum; the 10 words copied from the prompt are not counted. To strengthen the response, address both types of problems and explain each with a developed example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows a generally understandable sequence: you state your view, describe your arrival in Germany, and conclude by restating your agreement. The personal account helps the reader follow the practical difficulties. However, the essay is presented as one long paragraph, so the main points are not clearly separated, and there is little progression beyond the single travel example. Linking phrases such as “However” and “At the end” are used, but the connections between ideas can feel mechanical, and “This is the reason” repeats the conclusion rather than adding a final insight. Use separate paragraphs for your position, practical problems, social problems, and conclusion, with clearer links showing how each example supports your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “language barrier,” “destination,” “identity documents,” and “receptionist,” and the reader can understand the main events. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “explain your position to others,” “explain their language,” and repeated references to “problems.” Some collocations are unnatural, including “book a taxi” in this context and “talk in German”; more precise phrasing would make the account clearer. Capitalisation and spelling are also inconsistent, for example “Foreign,” “Language,” and “dont.” Build a wider set of expressions for communication difficulties and social consequences, and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including a contrast with “Although” and a time clause beginning “When I was entering the hotel.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors recur in sentence structure, tense, agreement, and articles. For example, “Majority of the population dont understand” needs an article and a correctly formed negative; “may language was English” appears to contain a mistaken possessive; and “i dont understand her language” shifts tense within a past narrative. The sentence beginning “Although the technology…” is awkwardly joined to “but,” and “i have faced” does not fit the past-time account. Practise accurate past-tense narration and use a wider range of complex structures with clearer clause boundaries.

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