Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-09

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 5.5)

It is often argued that living abroad and communicating in a foreign language leads to major social and practical difficulties. I completely agree with this statement because language barriers affect both daily tasks and personal relationships. This essay will discuss both prespective of said issue before reaching the conclusion.

To commence with the first notion, there are myriad things to be shared in the favour of people who claim that foreign language leads and practical difficulties. the first and the foremost reason is not knowing the local language creates severe practical problems in daily life. Simple activites, such as buying groceries, using public transport and renting an apartment,become stressful challenges. Moreover, importantly, it impacts professional life and health.For instance, an immigrant might struggle to explain their symptoms to a doctor, which can be dangeerous. furthermore, finding a good job is highly difficult without fluent language skills, often forcing educated individuals to take low payingpositions.

Secondly, language barriers lead to significant social problems. Humansd are social creatures who need to connect with others. When someone cannot speak the local language, they find it extremely hard to make local friends or join comminity activities. This inability to communicate deeply often leads to isolation. severe loneliness and culture shock. One another reason is that seconde

To sum up, according to the argument mentioed above and as long as my point of view, I strongly believe that living a foreign language enviroment brings serious difficulties. It creates practical hurdkes in employment and healthcare, while also causing social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, anyone planning to move abroad should try to learn the local language beforehand to minimize these issue.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: “I completely agree,” and the conclusion restates that living in a foreign-language environment creates practical and social difficulties. You address both parts of the prompt with relevant examples, including difficulty explaining symptoms to a doctor, finding work, and making local friends. However, the practical-problems paragraph is more fully developed than the social-problems paragraph. The latter introduces isolation and loneliness but ends with the incomplete phrase “One another reason is that seconde,” so a further supporting idea is not explained. The introduction also promises to discuss “both perspective” without making clear what the second perspective is. Develop each main point with a complete explanation or example to make the response more consistently supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for practical and social effects, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To commence with” and “Secondly” help signal the main points, and the conclusion brings the argument back to the stated position. However, progression is interrupted by the unfinished sentence “One another reason is that seconde,” which leaves the social paragraph without a complete ending. Some linking language is also mechanical or unclear: “the first and the foremost reason” and “according to the argument mentioned above” do not create precise connections between ideas. Use simpler transitions where appropriate, and ensure each paragraph develops and completes its central point before moving on.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “language barriers,” “professional life,” “isolation,” and “culture shock.” These choices help communicate the main argument, and you attempt some less common expressions such as “myriad” and “severe practical problems.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “foreign language leads and practical difficulties,” “low paying positions,” and “living a foreign language environment.” Spelling errors such as “activites,” “dangeerous,” and “enviroment” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural, precise combinations—for example, “creates practical difficulties” and “living in a foreign-language environment”—and proofread spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because language barriers affect both daily tasks and personal relationships” and a relative clause in “an immigrant might struggle to explain their symptoms to a doctor, which can be dangerous.” These structures generally make your meaning clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. The phrase “Simple activities … become stressful challenges” is followed by a missing space after the comma, and “Humans are social creatures” is written with an unnecessary extra letter. There are also incomplete or poorly formed constructions, especially “One another reason is that seconde,” and the conclusion’s “as long as my point of view.” Check sentence completeness, article and preposition use, and punctuation, while continuing to practise complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.