Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-19
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 5.0)
Living in a country where you feel alienated to the language being spoken there feels elephantine, and i completely agree with this statement, it can lead to immense hardships if you slip and and miss a vowel or an adjective in a formal or a tense setting. it also leads to a few moments of laughter sometimes, like for example if you pronounce a certain word, in a way that it sounds like a funny word, then it leads to funny reactions from people, but sometimes it my not be a fun word, it could be an offensive word, that gets you into trouble. In my knowledge it is important to know the foreign language like a local would, if you speak like a local even if you have a bad vocabulary in that specific language you can get away with it, but some languages like mandarin or hindi feature so many dialects and different variations that, you really cant be sure if one thing means the same thing in a different dialect, for example if you want one kg of sugar and its pronounced a certain way in a certain dialect of mandarin but you spoke in a different dialect and now you have like 1 ton of sugar on you, which you dont know how to dispose off, these kinds of issues can stem from a crude and a rudimentary understanding of a foreign language. in my personal experience i have seen laughs and giggles here and there if i go to my hometown and try speaking the local dialect of my mother tongue, but i totally agree that as a stranger trying to speak a local language is a daunting task
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by agreeing with the statement and providing examples of social and practical difficulties. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. The example regarding the '1 ton of sugar' is hyperbolic and lacks the academic tone required for Task 2. Furthermore, the argument remains anecdotal rather than analytical. While the position is clear, the essay lacks a formal structure, such as a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, which limits the depth of the discussion. To improve, you should focus on developing more sophisticated arguments regarding the psychological and systemic impacts of language barriers rather than focusing on humorous anecdotes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is written as a single, long paragraph, which significantly hinders coherence. There is a lack of logical progression between ideas; the transition from discussing formal settings to the 'sugar' anecdote is abrupt. Cohesive devices are used sparingly and often inappropriately, such as the repetitive use of 'and' and 'but' to connect clauses. To reach a higher band, you must use clear paragraphing to separate distinct ideas and employ a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in contrast') to guide the reader through your argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is often misused or inappropriate for an academic context. For example, describing a situation as 'elephantine' is incorrect in this context, as it usually refers to size or memory. The phrase 'get away with it' is too informal. While there is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'dialects' and 'variations', the overall range is limited. Many word choices are imprecise, which occasionally obscures the intended meaning. You should focus on learning collocations and ensuring that the words you choose are appropriate for a formal essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors, including run-on sentences, comma splices, and issues with subject-verb agreement. For instance, 'it my not be a fun word' contains a spelling error, and the sentence structure is consistently repetitive. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is largely ignored, with many sentences joined by commas where full stops are required. The frequent errors in basic grammar and the lack of variety in sentence construction make the text difficult to follow at times.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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