Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-30

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 , people often need to communicate in second language for purpose of travel and education. However, it is argued that speaking foreign language can cause serious issues like social isolation and embarrassment. But , I partly agree with this statement because this issues can be overcome .

One the one hand ,speaking a foreign language can cause serious problems, when people do not have sufficient level of proficiency .It leads to issues such as social isolation and misunderstanding . For example , in healthcare setting , people can not elaborate their symptoms to doctor which lead to inaccurate treatment due to misunderstanding. Furthermore , speaking second language can also lead issues such as individuals face difficulty to get good job where english is mandatory.Language barriers can have serious consequences in various circumstances.

On the other hand , people can face difficulty in communication with non native speakers , it leads to embarrassment. For example , if someone move to abroad where english is first language , it can be problematic in finding jobs , making friends and social isolation .

To my prospective, learning second language can opens up more opportunities regarding good education and employment . As language skills improve , above mentioned issues can be overcome . Educational institutes should offer english learning programs, where people can learn second language to improve their practical and social skills .

In conclusion , i partly agree with this statement that speaking second language can cause serious practical and social skills . But , these issues can be overcome due to offering english learning programs to community ,where they can learn second language and able to speak confidently in important situations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by acknowledging both the challenges and the potential for overcoming them. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention healthcare and employment as areas of difficulty, the arguments remain quite general. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific, detailed examples or explanations of how these social and practical problems manifest. Your position is clear, but the conclusion repeats the prompt's phrasing rather than synthesising your arguments effectively. Ensure that you fully explore the 'extent' of your agreement by balancing the severity of the problems against the solutions more deeply.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to signal shifts in your argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed. For example, the transition between the discussion of healthcare and employment is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'proficiency', 'misunderstanding', and 'social isolation'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on repetitive phrasing, such as 'serious problems' and 'can be overcome'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations. There are also some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'to my prospective' (should be 'perspective') and 'move to abroad' (should be 'move abroad').

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. Common issues include missing articles (e.g., 'in healthcare setting'), incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'can opens up'), and punctuation errors, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your point, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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