Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-29

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 6.0)

There is an ongoing debate about whether living in a country where a person needs to speak a foreign language can be detrimental for their social and pratical life. I believe that living where people do not speak your maternal language can have some disadvantages, however it will depend more on this person ability to speak another language and their social skills.

People who live overseas and have to speak another language can face some social and practical issues.

That is because they might not be familiar with a second language, and they can find it difficult to make friends and deal with normal adulthood situations. For example, a job interview is normally overwhelming, and adding up the language barrier can make it harder for people to find a job. Making friends and being part of a social group can be also challenging, especially if the person is not a confident speaker.

That can be detrimental to a person life, and can result in serious problems such as depression.

On the other hand, I believe that it all depends on the person languages and social skills. Some people are more adaptable than others, and if they are fluent in their second language, they are less likely to face those problems. A kid who was born in Brazil and learned english during their childhood, for example, will find it easier to adapt in a english environment if needed. For them, moving abroad can be as practical as living in their own country.

In conclusion, from my point of view, those who are fluent in another language are likely to find it easier to adapt in another country. However, people still can face social and practical problems if they do not speak the foreign language well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt directly, discussing both the social and practical problems associated with living in a foreign-language country, as well as providing a counter-argument regarding language proficiency. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are generally relevant and supported with explanations and examples, such as mentioning job interviews and a Brazilian child learning English. However, some arguments lack deep extension, hovering slightly on the surface of the topic rather than fully exploring the nuances of social integration. This performance aligns well with Band 6.5, but is best rounded to Band 6.0 as some parts of the discussion, particularly the counter-argument, could be more fully developed and explored with deeper analytical insight to reach the next band level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is utilised to separate the main body ideas. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'For example', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, there are instances where referencing and cohesion feel somewhat mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'That' or 'That is because' to start sentences. Additionally, the progression between sentences could be smoother in the second body paragraph. Overall, the logical flow is clear enough to follow without difficulty, placing the response solidly in the Band 6 category.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms such as 'detrimental', 'overwhelming', 'adapt', and 'fluent'. There are, however, some noticeable spelling and word choice errors, such as 'pratical' instead of 'practical', 'maternal language' instead of 'mother tongue' or 'native language', and 'this person ability' instead of 'this person's ability'. While these errors do not impede communication, they reflect the characteristics of a Band 6 vocabulary profile, where the student attempts less common lexical items with occasional inaccuracy and spelling slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures ('if they are fluent in their second language...') and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors present, such as 'a person life' instead of 'a person's life', 'person languages' instead of 'person's language skills', and 'in a english environment' instead of 'in an English environment'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while the errors occasionally distract the reader, they do not impede overall communication. The presence of these recurrent minor errors alongside a mix of structures firmly supports a Band 6 score.

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