Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-10

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 6.5)

It is often argued that the sole reason of learning a foreign language is either for travel or employment purpose. However, others believe that there are additional motives included. Both these views will be discussed before stating my opinion.

On one hand, it is often true that people learn new languages for travel or job. It is an important part of communication while visiting or migrating to a new place. For example, engineers shifting to Germany for projects need to learn German in order to interact and understand their clients. Similarly, tourists often learn basic phrases that help them to navigate, order food and avoid the misunderstandings while visiting another countries or states. So linguistic skills often results into better opportunities and smoother experiences.

However, there are several other reasons that encourage to learn a new language. Most of the global research and literature are available in languages like English, French or Spanish. Knowing these languages, one can benefit by accessing them for academic or personal interests. Also, it helps one to understand and acknowledge other cultures. People can enjoy foreign films, plays, books and music in their original form and developing deeper emotions and connections with people from different backgrounds. It also can be one of the ways to develop confidence and enable one to express themselves better among others

Hence, though learning a foreign tongue is a basic necessity for travel or work purpose, it cannot be the only major reason. Educational access, cultural appreciation and personality build up are equally significant. Therefore, I believe that language learning should be encouraged for a wide range of personal and intellectual benefits rather than just for practical purposes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as engineers moving to Germany or the benefits of accessing literature in its original language. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the second viewpoint could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the cognitive benefits of bilingualism beyond just cultural appreciation. However, the current level of development is sufficient for a strong score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'However', and 'Therefore' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. For instance, the link between the second body paragraph and the conclusion could be more seamless. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. The student uses some topic-specific vocabulary like 'linguistic skills', 'migrating', and 'intellectual benefits'. There are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'personality build up' (better: 'personal development') and 'encourage to learn' (better: 'encourage people to learn'). While the range is sufficient, incorporating more precise or academic collocations would elevate the score. The errors present do not impede meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is always clear. However, there are some persistent minor errors, such as 'sole reason of learning' (should be 'for learning'), 'avoid the misunderstandings' (remove 'the'), and 'it also can be' (should be 'it can also be'). While the student attempts complex structures, these occasional errors prevent the writing from being error-free. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain interest.

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