Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-03

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)

I agree to the given statement stating that living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems. It will be difficult for newcomers to adapt to the foreign language easily, especially in non-English-speaking countries.

Even though a person is good at their English, there are places where people might not be well-versed in English, like people in small businesses, etc. Hence, it will be difficult for the person to cope with that foreign language. They can face serious practical problems. They are not able to explain their basic needs in the shops near their locality. Even some people are not fluent in english also. So this might also be a problem. Furthermore, it will also cause serious social problems. As the person won't be able to understand the culture and heritage of the foreign countries. Language is the only way that connects different people to their own culture.

For instance, my friend, who is Indian, went to Taiwan for her internship. Even though she is well-versed in English, she faced some difficulties. She was asked to learn the chemical names in their own language. In most countries, basic education is taught in their own language. It will be helpful for the students to think easily in their own language. But it will also be difficult for the person to survive in other countries.

Hence, living in a country with a foreign language can cause serious as well as practical problems until the person is aware of the native language.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

Your position is clear from the opening: you agree that living with a foreign language can create both practical and social problems. You address both, using difficulty communicating in shops and your friend’s internship in Taiwan as relevant examples. However, the social-problem discussion is less developed: the claim that language connects people to culture does not explain clearly how this leads to social isolation or other serious consequences. The practical examples also need fuller explanation, and the conclusion mainly repeats your position. The response is 240 words, so it does not meet the 250-word minimum; the 22 words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop each main idea with a specific consequence and explanation, and add a relevant example or qualification.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph discussing practical and social difficulties, an example, and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “For instance,” and “Hence” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression within the body is not always clear. The second paragraph moves from English proficiency to shop communication, then to social problems and culture without fully connecting these points. The Taiwan example is relevant, but its link to the broader argument about social problems is not made explicit. Some transitions, especially the repeated use of “Hence” and “also,” feel mechanical. Give each body paragraph one main focus and use clear references to show how each example supports that focus.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “adapt,” “practical problems,” “well-versed,” and “culture and heritage.” These choices show some range beyond very basic language. However, several phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as “serious … problems,” “difficult,” and “foreign language,” which recur without much variation. Some collocations are awkward, including “cope with that foreign language” and “think easily in their own language”; these make parts of the argument less natural. There is also inconsistent capitalisation of “English.” Aim for more precise expressions that describe the actual effects, such as communication barriers, social isolation, or difficulty accessing services, and check that words combine naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including a concession beginning “Even though” and a reason introduced by “As.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but errors and awkward constructions occur across the response. For example, “Even some people are not fluent in english also” has an unclear structure, while “As the person won't be able to understand…” is a dependent clause presented as a sentence. In “They are not able to explain,” the present tense also shifts from the surrounding discussion of what newcomers may face. The sentence beginning “For instance, my friend…” is long and could be divided to make the example easier to follow. Practise complete clause structures, consistent tense, and sentence boundaries while retaining your attempts at complex forms.

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

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