Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-04

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 7.0)

Living in a country where a foreign language must be spoken can create challenges for immigrants. While I agree that it can lead to some social and practical difficulties, I believe these problems can be overcome with effort and time.

One of the main social problems is isolation. When people cannot communicate effectively in the local language, they may find it difficult to make friends or connect with the community. For example, a newcomer who does not speak English well in the UK might feel excluded from social gatherings or workplace conversations. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and a lack of cultural integration. Additionally, misunderstandings can occur, which may cause tension between different cultural groups.

In terms of practical problems, language barriers can make daily life very challenging. Simple tasks such as visiting a doctor, dealing with government paperwork, or shopping can become stressful if the person does not understand instructions. Furthermore, job opportunities may be limited because many employers require good communication skills. As a result, immigrants may end up in low-paid jobs despite having good qualifications. However, I do not completely agree that these problems are unavoidable. With language classes, community support, and technology such as translation apps, people can gradually improve their language skills. Over time, they can adapt and participate fully in society. Many immigrants have successfully integrated and even become fluent speakers.

In conclusion, although living in a foreign-language country can cause initial social and practical problems, I believe these can be managed. With determination and the right support, people can adapt and benefit from the experience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that acknowledges the difficulties while arguing that they are manageable. The ideas are well-developed, with distinct paragraphs for social and practical problems, followed by a counter-argument regarding solutions. The essay maintains a consistent focus on the prompt throughout. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, nuanced examples or explore the 'extent' of the agreement more deeply, perhaps by discussing whether certain groups (e.g., elderly immigrants or those in rural areas) face more significant barriers than others, which would add further depth to the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the problems and the solutions is handled effectively using the cohesive device 'However'. The use of linking words such as 'One of the main', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear, meeting the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'cultural integration', 'language barriers', and 'successfully integrated'. The word choice is generally precise, and the tone is academic. While the vocabulary is accurate, it lacks some of the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would characterize a Band 8 or 9 response. The current range is adequate for the task, but incorporating more nuanced collocations or idiomatic expressions related to the topic of migration and social adaptation would enhance the lexical profile of the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If the person does not understand instructions' and the concessive clause 'Although living in a foreign-language country can cause...'. The grammar is largely error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. The sentences are clear and easy to follow. To achieve a higher score, the student could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or more advanced inversion, to demonstrate greater flexibility and control over sentence structure.

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