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)

In recent years, there has been a school of thoughts that the ultimate purpose of learning a foreign language is for travelling to or working abroad. Conversely, some people hold a belief that there are other reasons other than the above-mentioned one for this tendency. A discussion of these views will be presented and justified with personal positions.

On the one hand, some individuals consider learning an

an additional language apart from their mother tongue a shortcut to visits to the country where that language is spoken or having a permanent job there. Take Vietnam or some other Asian countries like Korea or China as an example. Thousands of students of various age range study English diligently in language centers or take costly online courses with native speakers to hone their language skills with a desire to settle in the English-speaking countries with a prospective career there. Some other individuals at the working age choose to learn English to be able to communicate successfully in daily situations during their visits in the countries where English is the primary language in use.

On the other hand, learning a foreign language is also attributed to learning about the culture and the people who speak it. It is a plus point for a person to know how to speak another language apart from his native one since it helps broaden his horizon and enrich his empathy with the culture and beliefs of the people who speak that language.

In conclusion, from my perspective, being a proficient user of a foreign language brings numerous benefits in today's globalized world and hence it is necessary for any person in the modern era to acquire another language to cater to practical needs in life such as travelling, building career or enhancing life knowledge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal position in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides specific examples regarding students in Vietnam, China, and Korea, the second body paragraph regarding cultural benefits is quite brief and lacks concrete examples or further elaboration. To reach a higher band, you should aim to balance the depth of your arguments, ensuring that both perspectives are explored with equal detail and supported by relevant evidence or reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Conversely' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, the transition between the second body paragraph and the conclusion is slightly abrupt. The flow is generally smooth, but the essay would benefit from more sophisticated linking phrases to connect the ideas within the paragraphs more tightly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. Phrases like 'hone their language skills', 'prospective career', and 'globalized world' are used appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'school of thoughts' (should be 'school of thought') and 'reasons other than the above-mentioned one' (which is slightly wordy). While you use some less common vocabulary, the range is not yet wide enough to consistently demonstrate the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focus on using more idiomatic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'a shortcut to visits' (should be 'a shortcut to visiting') and 'in the countries where English is the primary language in use' (slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice constructions, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you currently possess.

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.