Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17
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)
Some argue that the reason behind learning new language is to work or travel in different countries. Others think that this is not the only reason to learn a foreign language. Although people learn a new language to build a relationship. I believe that people's main aim is to get a better job or communicate with foreign people.
learning a different language to travel or work are not the only reason, people learn to build a relationship. This is to say that, people try to speak in different languages, so they could understand the different cultures and try to make a relation with different countries citizen. For example, many individuals connect with each other from social media such as Instagram, try to make a bond of friendship with different background people and exchange each other cultures.
I wholeheartedly believe that people learn to speak in foreign language to get a better job opportunity or communicate with foreign citizens. Many individuals learn a different language, so they could not get a problem to get a work opportunity in different nations. Furthermore, people learn language to travel in foreign countries. Individuals want to travel in foreign countries, so they could communicate with local residents. For instance, many people learn to speak in english, so they could work and travel in english speaking nations.
In conclusion, although some individuals learn a foreign language to build a relationship, I strongly believe that people learn different language to work or travel in different countries because they could get a work opportunity and communicate with different culture people
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. While you mention cultural exchange and social media as reasons for learning a language, the explanation remains superficial. The argument for work and travel is also restated multiple times without adding significant depth or new insights. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-supported point rather than circling back to the same concepts. The position is clear, but the supporting evidence could be more varied and analytical.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive. For example, the phrase 'people learn' or 'different language' is used frequently, and transitions between sentences can feel abrupt. While the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, the lack of variety in linking words and the occasional awkward phrasing (e.g., 'This is to say that, people try to speak...') limit the flow. Improving the range of cohesive devices would enhance the overall readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'different', 'people', and 'learn' repeatedly. There are some inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'exchange each other cultures' (should be 'exchange cultures') and 'make a relation' (should be 'build relationships'). While the meaning is always clear, the lack of sophisticated or less common vocabulary prevents a higher score. Incorporating more precise academic terminology would significantly improve your lexical profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'learning a different language... are not'), missing articles (e.g., 'speak in english'), and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'so they could not get a problem to get a work'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy is essential.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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