Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-31

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)

Globalisation has immensely improved interactions between different nations and has consequently led to better overall relations. This has notably made international travel much easier. So, naturally, people from one country may travel to another seeking better opportunities. One of the biggest barrier that they have to tackle in this case, is the language barrier. While some may argue that it is not a grave issue as long as one knows basic english or the local language to get by, in my opinion the impacts of needing to communicate in a language that one is not familiar with can cause severe social, as well as practical problems.

The primary issue that arises from needing to communicate in an unfamiliar language is socialization. Even if one knows the language at an amateur level, that is simply not enough as the locals will tend to find it an inconveninece to someone who cannot clearly understand them. This is especially evident in university culture. For instance, many students choose to study abroad for better learning opportunities. The locals will choose to form groups among themselves as they feel more comfortable iteracting with people that understands them easily, is familiar with their culture and can catch the innuendo cleverly masked behind their words to laugh it off together.

Additionally, basic mastery of the foreign language can also practical issues like finding work. To bear the massive living expenses, for most people it is essential to find some work. However, employers typically do not want to hire these types of people as they may surmise that the gap in language comprehension will cause communication and collaboration issues with fellow teammates. For example, many students that move to Germany being enticed by free education struggle after a few years to cope with their living expenses. This is primarily due to not being able to find relevant work, which is a documented issue that stems from inadequate Deutch mastery. As a result, they may be exploited into extremely low paying manual jobs.

Overall, while it is true that basic understanding of the local language may help migrants to find work and survive in that foreign country. However, to truly thrive one has to make deeper connections there and for that mastery of the local language is the only key.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that language barriers cause both social and practical problems. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the distinction between university social dynamics and the economic challenges of finding employment. The examples provided, such as the situation for students in Germany, are relevant and effectively support the argument. The conclusion reinforces the main position well. To reach a higher band, the essay could benefit from a more nuanced exploration of how these problems might be mitigated or countered, which would add further depth to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'The primary issue that arises,' 'Additionally,' and 'As a result.' However, there are minor instances where the flow could be smoother, such as the transition in the final paragraph where the use of 'while' and 'however' in the same sentence creates a slight redundancy. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the structure supports the reader's understanding.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and allows for a clear expression of ideas. You use some good collocations like 'massive living expenses,' 'inadequate mastery,' and 'deep connections.' There are a few minor errors, such as 'inconveninece' (spelling) and 'iteracting' (spelling), as well as 'Deutch' instead of 'German.' While the range is sufficient to convey complex ideas, the use of more sophisticated, less common lexical items would elevate the score. The vocabulary is precise enough to avoid ambiguity, but occasional slips in spelling and word choice prevent a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, and your control of grammar is generally strong. However, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'One of the biggest barrier' (should be 'barriers') and 'people that understands them' (should be 'understand'). Additionally, the sentence 'Additionally, basic mastery of the foreign language can also practical issues like finding work' is missing a verb. Despite these occasional errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the range of structures used is sufficient for a good score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.