Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-18

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)

Learning a foreign language has become increasingly important in today’s world. While some people argue that the main motivation for learning another language is to facilitate travel or work abroad, others believe that there are numerous other reasons, such as cultural understanding, personal development, and intellectual growth. This essay will examine both perspectives before drawing a conclusion.

On one hand it is true that travel and work opportunities are strong incentives for learning a foreign language. For instance, people who move to another country for employment need to communicate effectively with colleagues Client and local communities. Similar tourist who know the local language can negative more easily interact with locals have a richer ride experience. In such cases learning a foreign language becomes a practical necessity rather than just an academic exercise.

On the other hand the benefits of learning a foreign language extend far beyond travel or work. Learning another language can enhance cognitive abilities, such as memory, problem-solving, and multitasking skills. It also opens the door to understanding different cultures, traditions, and ways of thinking, which fosters tolerance and global awareness. Moreover, many people learn languages for personal satisfaction, to read literature or watch films in their original form, or to connect with friends and family abroad. These reasons show that the value of language learning is not limited to professional or travel-related purposes.

In conclusion, while working or travelling abroad can be strong motivators for learning a foreign language they are by no means the only reasons. Therefore individuals should consider both practical and personal motivations when deciding to study a foreign language.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, particularly the discussion on cognitive benefits and cultural awareness. The position is consistent throughout the response. To reach a higher band, the student could provide more specific, concrete examples to support the arguments, such as mentioning a specific language-learning benefit related to a particular professional field or a specific cultural insight gained through language study. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link ideas. However, there are minor issues with punctuation and flow, such as the missing comma after 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Additionally, some sentences could be more smoothly connected to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some flexibility. Phrases like 'facilitate travel', 'cognitive abilities', and 'global awareness' show a good grasp of topic-specific language. However, there are some awkward word choices and errors, such as 'Client' (likely meant 'colleagues'), 'negative' (likely meant 'navigate'), and 'ride experience' (likely meant 'travel experience'). These errors slightly hinder the precision of the writing. To improve, the student should focus on accurate collocation and proofreading for word-choice slips that impact the natural flow of the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'While some people argue that... others believe that...'. However, there are several grammatical errors, including missing commas after introductory phrases and some awkward phrasing like 'Similar tourist who know...'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring consistent subject-verb agreement and punctuation would help elevate the grammatical accuracy.

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