Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-25

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 6.5)

Living in a country where people speak a foreign language can create some difficulties, especially when newcomers first arrive. However, I disagree that this situation causes serious social and practical problems because most language barrier can be over through learning and regular communication.

Admittedly, people who cannot speak the local language may initially experience practical difficulties. For example, they may struggle to communicate with doctors, understand public transport information, or deal with government services. They may also feel uncomfortable when speaking to local people. However, these problems are usually temporary. People can attend language classes, use translation applications, and practise speaking with native speakers. As their language skills improve, they can handle everyday situations more independently.

Moreover, living in a foreign-language environment can have positive social effects. It encourages people to communicate with others and learn about the local culture. For instance, an international student who moves to an English-speaking country may initially find it difficult to make friends, but regular interaction with classmates can gradually improve both their English and their social confidence. In addition, learning another language can help people understand different perspectives and build relationships with people from different backgrounds.

In conclusion, although living in a country where a foreign language is spoken can cause some initial practical and social difficulties, I believe these problems are generally manageable. With sufficient language practice and interaction with local people, most newcomers can adapt successfully.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against the idea that these problems are 'serious' or insurmountable. However, the response is 15 words under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief. For instance, the discussion on social effects is logical but could have been expanded with more specific examples or a deeper analysis of the long-term implications to fully satisfy the 'extended and supported' requirement of higher bands. The position is consistent throughout, but the lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. Cohesive devices such as 'Admittedly', 'Moreover', and 'For instance' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the flow of the argument is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, the student could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the transition between the practical and social aspects is even more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses terms like 'language barrier', 'native speakers', and 'social confidence' correctly. There is an attempt to use a range of vocabulary, though it remains somewhat standard. To improve, the student should incorporate more sophisticated or academic collocations to demonstrate a wider range. For example, instead of 'most language barrier can be over', the student should use 'language barriers can be overcome'. The current range is sufficient for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are minor slips, such as 'most language barrier can be over' (should be 'most language barriers can be overcome'). Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex structures is decent, but to achieve a higher band, the student should aim for more variety in sentence construction and ensure that subject-verb agreement and pluralization are consistently accurate.

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

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