Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-11
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 agree living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problem as well as practical problem but arguably it can also help us to improve ourself in better way which is beyond our imagination.
Most people choose to live in a country or place where they are comfortable and don't want to see outside their comfort zone but when we pack our bags and go to a foreign country where nobody speaks our own language their we can learn how to live a life form zero. Our parents may have helped us to do all the chores gave us a roof to live but when we go and live alone then we know how gorgeous, peaceful and big the world is and so much to explore.
We people have to be humbled to the core so we know what necessity and luxury is but this is a ticket most people will never pay.
There are also problem like we may not know their language which can cause miscommunication and maybe they will not accept us and we are from different country which can lead to no social life. In some country we may also face racism due to our physical difference
Many people go to different country for various reason some go for study some of them go for work and some also go to stay but living abroad and starting a life from zero where nobody knows you and nobody care what you do unlike India can help us to be a better person everyday
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by acknowledging both the social and practical challenges of living in a foreign-language environment. However, the development is uneven. While you mention the difficulties of miscommunication and potential racism, these points are not fully extended or supported with specific, concrete examples. The essay tends to drift into a personal reflection on the benefits of living abroad rather than focusing on the 'serious social and practical problems' requested by the prompt. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph directly supports your thesis with detailed explanations and clear, illustrative examples rather than general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The transition between the idea of 'comfort zones' and the 'social problems' of language barriers is abrupt. Cohesive devices are limited and sometimes used incorrectly, such as the informal 'their we can learn' instead of 'there we can learn'. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of your argument. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') to connect your ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher score. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'go to a foreign country' and 'live a life from zero'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'humbled to the core' and 'ticket most people will never pay', which sound unnatural in this context. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to migration, cultural integration, and linguistic challenges.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'nobody care what you do'), missing articles, and punctuation errors. For instance, the opening sentence is a long, run-on structure that lacks necessary commas. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like pluralisation and verb tense consistency before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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