Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-03

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)

Nowadays, many people move to foreign countries for education, employment or a better quality of life. However, living in a country where people speak a different language can create both social and practical difficulties. I partly agree with this statement because language barriers can cause many challenges, although they can be overcome with time and effort.

Firstly, speaking a foreign language can lead to social problems. People may find it difficult to communicate with local residents, make friends or participate in community activities. As a result, they may feel lonely and isolated. For example, international students often struggle to build relationships during their first few months because they are not confident in speaking the local language.

In addition, language differences can create practical problems in daily life. People may face difficulties while visiting hospitals, applying for jobs or dealing with government offices. Misunderstandings can also occur when reading official documents or following important instructions. Consequently, these situations can increase stress and make everyday life more complicated.

However, I do not completely agree that these problems are always serious. Nowadays, language learning apps, translation tools and language classes help people improve their communication skills more quickly.

In conclusion, I believe that living in a foreign-language country can cause both social and practical challenges, especially in the beginning. Nevertheless, with determination, practice and modern technology, most people can overcome these difficulties and successfully adjust to life in a new country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The essay addresses both social and practical problems as requested and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the response is 238 words, which falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the arguments, while relevant, remain somewhat superficial. For example, the discussion on practical problems could have been extended with more specific examples or a deeper analysis of the long-term implications. Because the response is under-length, it cannot fully develop the ideas to the level required for a higher band score, resulting in a penalty for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as social problems or practical difficulties, which helps the reader follow the argument. Cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'In addition', 'Consequently', and 'However' are used effectively to link ideas and sentences. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate. While the structure is simple, it is functional and clear, meeting the requirements for a coherent response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally accurate and appropriate for the topic. You have used relevant terms such as 'language barriers', 'isolated', 'misunderstandings', and 'official documents'. While the range is adequate to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and variety of less common lexical items that would push the score into the higher bands. The word choices are safe and functional rather than precise or idiomatic. To improve, try incorporating more topic-specific collocations and nuanced vocabulary related to the challenges of migration and linguistic integration.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a good level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I partly agree with this statement because language barriers can cause many challenges, although they can be overcome with time and effort.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are clear and easy to read. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or more advanced passive constructions, while maintaining the high level of accuracy shown here.

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