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 foreign country where a different language is required for everyday communication can undoubtedly create difficulties for immigrants. I agree that language barriers can cause both social and practical problems. However, I believe it can be overcome by learning a language and engaging with the local community.

One of the most significant social problems caused by language barriers is social isolation. People who cannot communicate articulately may find it difficult to establish friendship, participate in community and express their opinions confidently. As a result, they may feel excluded from society and become increasingly dependent on people who speak their native language. In addition, misunderstanding arising from limited language proficiency can lead to embarrassment or frustrations, which may discourage immigrants from interacting with locals. For example, a newly arrived immigrant may avoid social gathering because of the fear of being misunderstood or unable to understand conversations.

Language difficulties can also create practical problems. everyday tasks such as communicating with doctors, dealing with government authority and understanding employment contracts. A minor misunderstanding can have serious consequences. For instance, someone with limited knowledge of the local language might have misunderstood medical instructions or fail to fully understand the terms of the employment contract.

However, I do not believe these are permanent problems. With access to language courses and regular interaction with native speakers, immigrants can gradually improve their communication skills.

In conclusion, I largely agree that having to communicate in a foreign language can create substantial social and practical difficulties. Nevertheless, these problems can be significantly reduced when immigrants are given opportunities to learn the language and participate in the new communities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both social and practical problems, and clearly states an opinion throughout the essay. The position is well-supported with relevant examples, such as immigrants avoiding social gatherings or struggling with medical and employment contracts. The ideas are extended and explored with sufficient depth, meeting the Band 7 criteria for Task Response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured into appropriate paragraphs with clear central topics. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'One of the most significant social problems', 'In addition', and 'For instance', though paragraphing and transitions could be slightly more polished to reach higher bands. Overall, cohesion is well managed, fitting the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, incorporating terms like 'social isolation', 'proficiency', and 'employment contracts'. However, there are minor lexical and grammatical word-choice errors, such as 'establish friendship' (should be 'friendships') and 'government authority' (should be 'authorities'). These errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over clauses and introductory phrases, such as 'Living in a foreign country where a different language is required...'. There are a few grammatical inaccuracies, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'it can be overcome' referring to multiple problems, and missing pluralisation. However, frequent error-free sentences are present, allowing the reader to follow the argument easily. This aligns well with the Band 7 criteria.

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