Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-12

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)

Many today are increasingly of the opinion that living in a country where people have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social and practical problems. As far as I am concerned, I partially advocate this notion.

The strongest justification for my point of view is that living in a foreign-language environment can create practical difficulties. In other words, people may struggle to communicate with doctors, teachers, employers and government officials. They can also face problems while using public transport or completing important paperwork. To provide a concrete illustration, a foreign student may find it difficult to explain a health problem to a doctor because of limited language skills. Another factor to back up my claim is that language barriers can reduce opportunities for employment. Additionally, people may need considerable time to become confident in speaking the local language.

Some people, on the other hand, dispute the mentioned support. The most important argument they make is that living in a foreign-language country can improve social relationships over time. Moreover, learning the local language helps people communicate with neighbours and make new friends. What is more, regular interaction with local people can improve language skills and help foreigners understand the culture better. Some people, on the other hand, dispute the mentioned support. Learning the local language can help people make friends, understand the culture and become more confident in society.

In conclusion, I reaffirm my opinion that living in a country where a foreign language is required can cause some serious practical problems, although these difficulties can gradually be reduced by learning and using the local language.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the practical and social problems associated with speaking a foreign language, while offering a clear and balanced partial position. The student extends and supports ideas well, particularly in the paragraph detailing practical difficulties such as interacting with doctors and using public transport, supported by a concrete illustration. However, the opposing view regarding social relationships repeats the phrase 'Some people, on the other hand, dispute the mentioned support' almost verbatim, which leads to slight redundancy in the development of ideas. Despite this minor flaw in organisation, the overall task is covered well with a clear position throughout, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the practical arguments, the counter-arguments, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'The strongest justification', 'In other words', and 'Additionally'. However, paragraph three suffers from a mechanical repetition of the sentence 'Some people, on the other hand, dispute the mentioned support', which detracts slightly from the fluidity of the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing remains clear for the most part, earning a solid Band 7 for this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for flexibility and precision, successfully using less common lexical items such as 'practical difficulties', 'concrete illustration', and 'language barriers'. Word choice is generally appropriate and allows the message to be communicated clearly. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses, such as referring to counter-arguments as 'dispute the mentioned support', but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the piece. The lexical range is adequate to meet the demands of Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, demonstrating good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of successful complex constructions include 'living in a foreign-language environment can create practical difficulties' and 'a foreign student may find it difficult to explain a health problem to a doctor because of limited language skills.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the essay. While the grammatical structures are diverse and mostly accurate, the repetition of sentence frames in the body paragraphs prevents the response from reaching the higher requirements of Band 8. Therefore, a score of 7.0 is fully justified.

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