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)

There is an ongoing argument whether learning a foreign language is primarily for travelling or working in another country, while others argue it serves other wider range purposes. Although i acknowledge the importance of language learning for international travel and employment, I believe its benefits extend far beyonfd these practical reasons.

One advantage of learning foreign language is be able to communicate with local people when travelling. This is because many contries have several local languages spoken in each state, province or town, alongside an official language. When a foreigner is visiting, communicating without needing a interpreter or translator would give less stress travellers might encounter in the course of their trip. For instance, a Nigerian travlling to Ivory coast would need to need to communicate effectively in french to have a smooth and understanding conversations. In addition, learnig foreign language could place people in best position to secure employment abroad. Therefore, foreign skills can make both international travel and working oversea considerably easier.

Another benefit of having foreign skills is that it allow people to understand foreign cultures. This is because learning foreign language make people to enjoy foreign literatures, films and other entertainment. For instance, Indians films mostly revolve around romance which most makes most women to watch at their leisure time. Knowing this knowledge can influence their love life and also promotes india cultures.

In conclusion, I believe it is an important advantage to learn foreign language to secure work abroad, give smooth communication while travelling and also allow people to understand the foreigners culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views: the first main paragraph explains travel and overseas employment, while the next introduces cultural understanding as a wider reason. Your opinion is also stated in the introduction and conclusion. However, the discussion is uneven: travel and work receive several explanations, whereas the broader view is supported mainly by a brief, unclear example about Indian films. The task asks you to discuss both positions, so develop this second view with a clearer reason and a relevant example, such as how language learning helps people access literature or build relationships across cultures. The conclusion mostly repeats the practical benefits and does not clearly restate the wider value that you introduced. A more balanced discussion and fuller support would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “One advantage,” “For instance,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes unclear, particularly in the cultural paragraph, where the move from films to women’s leisure and then to love life is difficult to follow. Some connections are also mechanical or repetitive, especially the repeated use of “This is because” and “For instance.” The conclusion lists benefits rather than drawing the two views together. Use clearer topic sentences, explain how each example supports its point, and vary linking methods so the argument develops more smoothly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “international travel,” “employment abroad,” “communicate,” and “foreign cultures.” These choices make the main ideas understandable. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling, and collocation errors reduce precision: “foreign skills” is not a natural substitute for language ability, “oversea” should be “overseas,” and “understanding conversations” does not express the intended meaning clearly. There are also misspellings such as “contries,” “travlling,” and “learnig.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “language proficiency,” “cultural insight,” and “access to local media” would help express the ideas without relying on repeated general phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a concession in the introduction (“Although I acknowledge…”) and explanations using “because.” However, errors occur frequently in sentence construction and agreement, and some sentences are difficult to process. For example, “One advantage of learning foreign language is be able to communicate” needs a grammatical subject and infinitive structure, while “learning foreign language make people” has an agreement error. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent, as in “a interpreter” and “foreign literatures.” The example sentence beginning “For instance, a Nigerian…” contains a repeated phrase and an unclear ending. Practise accurate sentence patterns, especially articles, subject–verb agreement, and infinitive or gerund constructions, then proofread each sentence for completeness.

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