Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Yes, most of the people think learning a foreign language is to migrate to a foreign country. This all because most of the developed countries have there own language apart from English as there national language . Even in order to study or to work some of the universities and workplaces require that country's language proficiency .

But not all the time . Even in staying in their country, getting a foreign language can open many opportunities to get employed in their country itself . For example , learning English , a foreign language to Indians , helps to get hired by a university or a school as a teacher. Here learning a foreign language did not make that person to move abroad, instead, the foreign language helped him to improve his livelihood.

I believe , learning a foreign language always a two faced that is, using it to migrate to foreign to work or to study and the other is using it for himself in his own country. For example, an employee in America got mail regarding ,to work in Germany as a Mechanical Engineering in BMW showroom but there is a condition that the employee must have German proficiency . In this case, the employee learns German language to have bright future and uses it to travel abroad.

Whereas, a person in Germany learns English, a foreign language to him, that person uses English language to teach his fellow people like him in his surroundings. Here the purpose of learning foreign language to help others . Whereas , in the first case it is develop his own .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. While you mention that languages can be used for migration or local employment, the explanation of these points lacks depth. For instance, the example regarding the German teacher is a bit vague and does not fully explore the broader benefits of language learning, such as cognitive development or cultural appreciation. To improve, ensure that each paragraph provides a more thorough explanation and a clear, well-integrated example that directly supports the main point of the paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical progression between ideas is sometimes disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is present but often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'For example' and 'Whereas'. Some transitions feel abrupt, making the flow of the argument less smooth. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect sentences and paragraphs more naturally. Additionally, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence to guide the reader through your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'getting a foreign language' instead of 'learning a foreign language' and 'two faced' to describe a concept. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and occasional collocation errors limit the score. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise terminology related to the topic of language acquisition and professional development.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'most of the people think'), article usage, and punctuation errors, such as unnecessary spaces before commas. Some sentences are also structurally awkward, which occasionally hinders readability. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and work on constructing more complex sentences with correct subordination and coordination. Reducing the frequency of these errors is essential for achieving a higher band score.

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

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