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)

In this contemporary era, it is common for people to move to countries where a foreign language is spoken. Although living in such an environment can create certain social and practical difficulties, I partly agree that these problems are serious because most of them can be overcome with time and proper language skills

One major problem is that a language barrier can make it difficult for people to communicate with others and develop social relationships. When newcomers are unable to express their thoughts clearly, they may feel isolated and find it difficult to participate in conversations with local people. This can gradually reduce their confidence and make them less willing to interact with others. In addition, there can be several practical difficulties in everyday life. For instance, people may struggle to understand instructions at workplaces, communicate with doctors or complete official paperwork. As a result, even simple daily tasks can become stressful.

However, I believe that these difficulties are not necessarily long-term problems. The main reason is that people can gradually improve their language skills by attending classes and communicating regularly with native speakers. As their ability to understand and speak the language improves, they become more confident and independent. Moreover, modern technology can also help newcomers overcome communication barriers through translation applications and online learning platforms. Therefore, the difficulties faced at the beginning can become less serious over time.

Ultimately, I believe that living in a country where a foreign language is spoken can cause both social and practical problems, particularly during the initial period. However, I only partly agree with the statement because these challenges can generally be reduced through language learning, regular communication and adaptation to the new environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the social and practical problems caused by living in a foreign-language country, while taking a clear, balanced position ("I partly agree"). The ideas are well developed throughout the essay. For instance, in the second paragraph, the writer explains specific social consequences, such as isolation and reduced confidence, as well as concrete practical difficulties like understanding workplace instructions and completing paperwork. The third paragraph successfully balances this by presenting logical arguments for how these challenges can be mitigated over time through language acquisition and technology. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction to the conclusion, meeting the criteria for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organization. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction outlines the stance, the second paragraph details the problems, the third explores the solutions or mitigating factors, and the conclusion restates the position. Cohesive devices are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments, such as "In addition", "For instance", "However", and "Therefore". Paragraphing is managed appropriately, with each body paragraph dealing with a central theme. While the transitional phrases are sometimes standard rather than highly sophisticated, the logical flow is smooth and consistent, aligning well with the descriptors for a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted with some success, such as "contemporary era", "isolated", "official paperwork", and "mitigation" concepts though phrased as "overcome communication barriers". There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, but these never impede communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response. To reach higher bands, the writer could incorporate more sophisticated, precise collocations and less common idiomatic or academic phrases, but the current lexical control comfortably sits at a Band 6.5 to 7.0 range, warranting a solid 7.0 for satisfying a sufficient range with good flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer displays a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simpler ones, maintaining good control over grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include "Although living in such an environment can create certain social and practical difficulties, I partly agree..." and "When newcomers are unable to express their thoughts clearly, they may feel isolated...". There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled accurately throughout the text. While minor slips may occur, there are no systematic errors that impede meaning or obscure the arguments. This level of grammatical control and variety fits comfortably within the Band 7.0 descriptors.

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