Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-14

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)

In this topic, some people believe that there is just one cause to learn a foreign language and it is to travel or work overseas. However, other say that there are various reasons for someone who is learning a foreign language. I have discussed both the perspective in the ensuing paragraphs before putting my opinion.

To support first argument, nowadays increasing number of people has been exploring different countries either as a traveller or an employee such as Dubai, Singapore, Vietnam because it gives wide range of unique tourist attractions as well as work opportunities. Generally, people learn a common international language to communicate and to comprehend the culture and it is an ENGLISH. Moreover, a person who go to abroad for professional purpose is bound to learn at least one foreign language so that he can work with their citizens. For instance, an employee who is working from home in a Germany based tech company. Once he have to go Germany for any project for one year then he had to learn a little German.

Some people say that there are not the only causes for learning any language. It can be the curiosity for language or to study a particular degree in abroad. For instance, growing number of students go overseas to study from last few decades so that they have to qualify an English proficiency test

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, which significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address both views, the arguments are underdeveloped and lack sufficient depth. For instance, the second paragraph introduces the idea of studying abroad but stops abruptly without fully explaining why this supports the view that there are other reasons for learning a language. The conclusion is entirely missing, which means your position is not clearly stated or maintained throughout the response. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introduction, fully developed body paragraphs with specific examples, and a concluding summary that reinforces your opinion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay has a basic structure, but the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'For instance,' but these are sometimes used mechanically. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is cut off, which disrupts the logical flow of the essay. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Once he have to go Germany,' where the connection to the previous point is slightly disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that connects back to the main prompt.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on common phrases like 'increasing number of people' and 'work opportunities.' There are some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'comprehend the culture and it is an ENGLISH' (should be 'comprehend the culture, such as English') and 'go to abroad' (should be 'go abroad'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to language acquisition and global mobility. Avoid repetitive phrasing and focus on using more sophisticated synonyms for common words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You make several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('other say', 'a person who go', 'he have to go') and article usage ('in a Germany based tech company'). These errors occur frequently and occasionally make the meaning slightly difficult to follow. While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain errors that impede the flow. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading your work for these common errors will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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