Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-12

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

Learning a skill never goes to waste, this is something we often hear and experience in our life.Same goes for language.

People often think that the sole reason for learning a language is when they have to work or travel to a foreign country. Although it is the case for approximately 85 percent of the people who attempt for learning a foreign language, some do it as a hobby, to learn something different, some do it subconciously, when watching movies or series that were filmed in different languages, whereas some take it as a part of their curricular interests.

The fact that you have to learn the native language when you aim to settle in a new place, is very solid, as, English is not appreciated or understood by all nations. People warmly welcome foreigners who can speak their native language as compared to ones who can not. It also easesthe communication barrier and connects one to a new place shortly.Moreover certain universities also require foreign language profficiency even when their medium of instruction is English.

On the other hand, learning foreign languages as a subject or out of interest never goes to waste either. It can serve as very remarkable skill on a person's profile, even when living in their homeland. It opens many job opportunities, both, on site and remote, a person can opt for online side jobs that require this skill , as very limited people do it determinedly.

Therefore, it is not wrong to say that people learn foreign languages only when they are bound for it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views: the first body paragraph explains why people learn a language for relocation, communication and university entry, while the next gives personal interest and employment as other motives. These are relevant points, but several are asserted rather than explained; for example, the claim that about 85 percent learn for travel or work is unsupported, and the benefits of learning as a hobby are only briefly mentioned. Your own position is also unclear. The conclusion says people learn languages “only when they are bound for it,” which contradicts the earlier argument that people also learn from interest and for career opportunities. State your view directly and support it consistently, with a specific example or fuller explanation for each main reason.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two perspectives, and a concluding sentence, so the reader can identify its broad structure. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven: the second sentence of the introduction lists several motives in a long sequence, and the paragraph about learning for relocation moves from communication to universities without a clear link. Connectors such as “Although,” “On the other hand,” and “Therefore” help signal relationships, but the final “Therefore” introduces a conclusion that conflicts with the preceding discussion. Some sentence boundaries and spacing also make the flow harder to follow. Organise each body paragraph around one clear claim, develop it with an explanation or example, and ensure the conclusion follows logically from the essay.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “native language,” “communication barrier,” “proficiency,” and “job opportunities,” which allows you to discuss both practical and personal motives. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, such as “curricular interests” and “subconsciously,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “attempt for learning,” “easesthe communication barrier,” and “take it as a part of their curricular interests” do not express the intended ideas smoothly. Spelling errors such as “subconciously” and “profficiency” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling; for instance, use “choose to learn,” “ease communication,” and “academic interests” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex forms, including a concessive opening with “Although” and a relative clause in “universities also require foreign language proficiency.” However, sentence control is inconsistent. The opening joins two independent clauses with a comma (“Learning a skill never goes to waste, this is…”), and the long sentence listing alternative motives is difficult to manage. Other examples include the awkward construction “when they have to work or travel” and the comma-separated phrase “both, on site and remote.” Missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent comma use also affect readability. Practise separating long ideas into complete sentences, checking clause boundaries, and using punctuation consistently while retaining some complex structures.

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