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)

Learning a completely new language is a precious skill anyone can achieve. In the world of Artificial Intelligence and Internet, there are free resources available everywhere. It just needs some time and dedication to achieve this.

Learning a foreign language for travel or work is not wrong. Someone might be not needed an extra language in their current life. In this scenario, those people can spend this time learning other valuable skills which might be required for job, education or survival itself. So, it makes sense they only want to learn a new language when they are traveling or going abroad for work. Such as, anyone doing a job in their current country, doesn't need a new language. They might need a new skill to survive in their work field.

One the other hand, some people argue that, learning a new language is really valuable. It opens a new door of opportunity for future scope. You can communicate with foreign people and learn about their culture. As well as, you can share your norms and values with them too. For example, currently i am preparing for my higher studies in Japan. I am learning Japanese along side English. It's not required for my education, although it makes sense when almost 90% of the local people speak Japanese.

Lastly, everyone has their own opinion and requirements. Both of the perspective are right in different scenario. Although i am biased towards learning a new language overall. Being able to speak a new language always keeps me ahead in life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the necessity of language for work is repetitive, and the example regarding Japan is personal rather than a broader exploration of the topic. The response would benefit from more detailed explanations of why language learning is beneficial beyond professional utility, such as cognitive development or cultural empathy. While the task is addressed, the depth of analysis is consistent with a band 6 level, as some points remain under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'One the other hand' and 'Lastly', although some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused (e.g., 'As well as' at the start of a sentence). The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher band. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure helps the reader follow the argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'precious skill' and 'future scope', though some collocations are slightly unnatural (e.g., 'future scope' or 'in different scenario'). The range is sufficient to communicate, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. There are no significant spelling errors, but the word choice is often quite basic, which limits the overall impact of the argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Someone might be not needed' (should be 'might not need') and 'Both of the perspective are right' (should be 'perspectives are'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. A greater variety of error-free complex structures would be needed to reach a band 7.

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