Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-19

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 modern society, a lot of people face many challenges to learn foreign language in the order to communicate, work, or to pursue their higher study in foreign countries. some individual believe that learning a foreign language is only limited for to travel or to work outside of their home country. But others say that these are not the only reasons that why someone should learn a foreign language. In this essay we will discuss both perspectives before presenting my own opinion.

On one hand, there are so many people who believe that learning any foreign language is the sign of to work or to travel others countries. They believe that why someone spend their valuable time to learn another language but they probably some plane about their future to be study, work, or go for visit outside from their home country.

On the other hand, there is many individuals who are against from this opinion that it is not the only one reason to learn a foreign language. Because they believe that learning any foreign language is not just to move from country where they born. But it is the ability of individual to learn more than one language, not only for migration or for to study or to work abroad.

In my personal opinion, I believe that learning the local language is the sign of respect toward the host country, not only to learn the foreign language to get higher value, or to study, work, or staring business in other countries.

In Conclusion, seeking the local language is not only mandatory to work, study, or to travel any foreign country. But it also give you multiple benefits such as to understand and communicate with local people, as well as to fully embers yourself in the their beautiful culture.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is limited. The arguments provided are somewhat repetitive and lack specific examples or depth. For instance, the discussion on why people learn languages is quite general and does not fully explore the 'other reasons' mentioned in the prompt, such as cognitive benefits or cultural appreciation, until the very end. To improve, you should expand on your points with concrete examples or logical explanations to ensure the response is fully developed rather than just stating ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'On one hand' and 'On the other hand' are used, but the internal flow within paragraphs is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between ideas feels disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'staring business' instead of 'starting a business' and 'embers yourself' instead of 'immerse yourself'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic terms to express ideas. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to language learning and cultural exchange, and pay closer attention to the correct usage of collocations and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include incorrect verb forms ('why someone spend'), missing articles, and preposition errors ('against from this opinion'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently and occasionally cause the reader to pause. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. 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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