Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Living in a country where people are required to communicate in a foreign language can undoubtedly create both social and practical difficulties. However, I only partly agree that this situation causes serious problems, as the extent of these difficulties largely depends on an individual's ability to adapt and the support available to them.

One major problem is that language barriers can make social integration considerably more difficult. People who cannot communicate confidently in the local language may struggle to form friendships, participate in community activities or understand cultural norms. As a result, they can become socially isolated and may even feel excluded from the wider community. For example, immigrants who have limited proficiency in the language of their host country often find it difficult to interact with their neighbours or colleagues, which can prevent them from developing a sense of belonging. Moreover, misunderstandings caused by differences in language can sometimes lead to frustration or conflict.

There are also significant practical challenges associated with living in a foreign-language environment. Everyday activities such as visiting a doctor, dealing with government authorities, opening a bank account or finding employment can become unnecessarily complicated when a person cannot communicate effectively. In serious situations, such as medical emergencies, an inability to explain symptoms accurately could have particularly harmful consequences. Similarly, workers with inadequate language skills may have fewer employment opportunities, regardless of their professional qualifications.

In conclusion, living in a country where a foreign language is required can create serious social and practical difficulties, particularly for newcomers. Nevertheless, I believe that these problems are largely temporary and can be overcome through language education, regular practice and appropriate support from the host society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the social and practical problems associated with living in a foreign-language environment, while taking a clear, well-supported position. The introduction outlines your stance that while difficulties exist, they depend on adaptation and support. Throughout the body paragraphs, you provide relevant and extended ideas, such as social isolation, difficulty in community integration, and practical challenges like accessing medical care or finding suitable employment. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your arguments and addresses the nuance of the prompt by noting that these issues are largely temporary. The ideas are thoroughly developed and supported with relevant examples, demonstrating a strong understanding of Task Achievement requirements corresponding to a high band level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your essay exhibits a clear logical progression and a coherent overall arrangement. Information and ideas are structured logically from the introduction to the balanced body paragraphs and the final conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each body paragraph focusing on a distinct theme—social problems followed by practical challenges. Cohesive devices such as 'One major problem', 'As a result', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are managed effectively to guide the reader smoothly through the arguments. Referencing is consistently clear, ensuring that relationships between ideas are easy to follow without any noticeable mechanical errors or awkward transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic context. You use less common items and collocations with good awareness of style, such as 'social integration', 'cultural norms', 'socially isolated', and 'medical emergencies'. Word choice and phrasing are generally precise, enabling clear and fluent communication of your ideas. While there are a few standard collocations rather than truly rare idioms or advanced lexical features, the vocabulary is more than adequate to fulfill the requirements of the task effectively and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a strong control of grammar and punctuation, employing a variety of complex sentence structures throughout the essay. Sentences such as 'People who cannot communicate confidently in the local language may struggle to form friendships...' and 'Living in a country where a foreign language is required can create...' show an ability to handle subordinate clauses and complex phrasing with ease. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and any minor issues do not impede communication. Punctuation is accurate, and verb tenses remain consistent and appropriate across all paragraphs.

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