Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-28

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 7.0)

It is true that moving to a country where the dominant language is not your mother tongue presents significant challenges. I completely agree that this situation leads to both serious social isolation and major practical difficulties, at least in the initial period of settlement.

The most severe impact is social. Without fluency in the local language, an immigrant cannot form deep relationships with local people, which leads to loneliness and exclusion. They may be unable to understand jokes, cultural references, or social customs, making it hard to feel a sense of belonging. For example, a Bangladeshi student in Germany might struggle to make German friends and instead only socialize with other expatriates, creating a segregated community.

In the workplace, poor language skills can also cause misunderstandings with colleagues and prevent promotions, which further damages self-confidence. In extreme cases, this lack of communication can even lead to discrimination or mistrust.In addition to social issues, there are immediate and serious practical problems. Everyday tasks that are simple at home become stressful abroad. These include visiting a doctor and explaining symptoms, understanding a rental contract, opening a bank account, or dealing with government offices for visas and residency. A simple mistake due to misinterpretation can have serious legal or financial consequences.

For instance, if someone fails to understand traffic signs or safety warnings because of the language barrier, it could endanger their life. Even shopping for groceries or using public transport can be a daily source of anxiety.Some people argue that technology, such as translation apps, and the widespread use of English have reduced these problems. While these tools can help with basic survival, they are not sufficient for handling complex situations like a job interview, a medical emergency, or a deep emotional conversation.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that living in a foreign-language country causes profound social and practical problems. Although these difficulties may decrease over time as a person learns the language, the initial period can be extremely challenging and requires considerable resilience and support.

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 country, and clearly states a position of complete agreement. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the Bangladeshi student in Germany and practical scenarios like visiting a doctor or reading traffic signs. The writer maintains a clear position throughout the essay, extending arguments logically without wandering off-topic. This performance easily satisfies the Band 8 descriptor for Task Achievement due to its comprehensive coverage and strong development of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently sequenced, starting with an introduction, moving through distinct paragraphs dedicated to social and practical problems, acknowledging counter-arguments regarding technology, and concluding effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition to social issues', 'For instance', and 'While these tools can help' are used flexibly and appropriately. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to structure the argument, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The response aligns well with a Band 7 or Band 8 level for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, demonstrating awareness of style and collocation. Appropriate lexical items include 'dominant language', 'social isolation', 'segregated community', 'misinterpretation', and 'profound social and practical problems'. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies or common collocations, but communication is never impeded. The vocabulary choice is natural and supports the academic tone of the response well, placing it comfortably in the Band 7 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include concessive clauses ('While these tools can help with basic survival, they are not sufficient...') and conditional forms ('if someone fails to understand traffic signs...'). Only very occasional minor errors or awkward phrasings appear, which do not interfere with understanding. This demonstrates the strong command of grammar expected at Band 7.5 to Band 8.

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