Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-14

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)

Living in a country where people speak a different language definitely creates some challenges. I partly agree that it can cause both social and practical problems, although these problems can be solved over time.

On the one hand, language barriers can lead to serious social problems. First, it is difficult to make local friends if you cannot communicate well. For example, immigrants may feel lonely because they cannot join conversations or understand jokes. Second, misunderstandings can happen easily. A person might say something wrong by mistake and offend others, which can damage relationships. Because of this, some foreigners feel isolated and do not integrate into the new society.

In terms of practical problems, language is also very important. Daily tasks become much harder. For instance, it is difficult to visit a doctor, go to the bank, or deal with government offices if you do not understand the local language. At work, poor language skills can also limit job opportunities and may cause mistakes that affect safety. I have seen this in jiujiang

where some expats struggle to order food or take a taxi because they do not speak Chinese.

However, I do not think these problems are permanent. With effort, people can learn the language. There are language schools, apps, and online courses that make learning easier. Also, many countries have communities of people who speak the same language, so newcomers can get help at the beginning.

In conclusion, I agree that living in a foreign-language country can cause social and practical difficulties at first. But with time and practice, people can overcome these problems and adapt successfully

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the social and practical problems of living in a foreign-language country, as well as considering whether these are permanent. The student establishes a clear position in the introduction by stating that they 'partly agree' and sustains this viewpoint throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as immigrants feeling lonely or struggling with daily tasks like visiting a doctor or going to the bank. While the inclusion of a specific location ('jiujiang') adds a personal touch, the overall development of ideas satisfies the requirements for Band 7, as all parts of the prompt are covered with a clear and consistent stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, transitioning smoothly from social problems ('On the one hand') to practical problems, and finally to counter-arguments regarding the temporary nature of these issues ('However'). Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, though referencing and paragraphing are standard rather than sophisticated, which aligns well with a Band 7 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'language barriers', 'feel isolated', 'integrate into the new society', and 'limit job opportunities' show an awareness of collocation and style. There are attempts at less common lexical items, and word choices are generally accurate. Errors are minimal and do not impede communication, allowing the response to comfortably secure a Band 7 score for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional-like ideas and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'if you cannot communicate well' and 'although these problems can be solved over time'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and grammatical control is generally good, though punctuation has a minor slip with a lowercase letter at the start of a proper noun ('jiujiang'). The majority of sentences are accurate, and errors do not impede communication, supporting a Band 7 rating.

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