Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20
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)
A few people said that one reason for learning a foreign language is to travel and work in a foreign country. Others said that there are some additional reasons to learn a foreign language. In this essay, we will discuss why both employment and tourism require learning a foreign language.
On the one hand, learning a foreign language is important for improving your communication skills and for your career, so you can live abroad comfortably and have a chance to get a job in an international company. For example, some people learn a foreign language to have a job in a multinational company, and to run their own business in a foreign country.
On the other hand, a few people believe that a person who can learn a foreign language can study the culture of another country that they cannot possibly with their native language. Secondly, to learn a foreign language for academic purposes and to communicate with their friends who live in another country.
In my opinion, learning a foreign language is important for travelers and employment. For example, the student learns the foreign language to communicate with their friends, for education, and to survive in other country.
In conclusion, learning a foreign language is important for the job and, on the other hand, people who learn about different cultures because it is very close to the major mission. To learn a foreign language is very beneficial for tourists and passengers in the early stages. People can learn other languages to talk with their family who lives in another country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The essay addresses both views, but the development of ideas is limited and often repetitive. While you mention employment and tourism, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. For instance, the point about 'studying culture' is introduced but not explained or supported with a clear example. Your position is stated in the conclusion, but it is somewhat confusing as you reiterate the points from the prompt rather than providing a cohesive argument. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by a detailed explanation and a concrete example. The conclusion should also clearly summarise your main stance rather than introducing new, slightly disjointed ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical progression of ideas is often weak. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as the repetitive use of 'on the other hand' or 'for example'. Some sentences feel disconnected, making the flow of the argument difficult to follow. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the connection between 'mission' and 'tourists' is vague. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each sentence logically follows the previous one to create a smoother narrative flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use the phrase 'learn a foreign language' throughout the text, which limits your lexical range. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'passengers' instead of 'travelers' or 'tourists', and the phrase 'very close to the major mission' is unclear in this context. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to the topic, such as 'linguistic proficiency', 'cultural immersion', or 'globalised workforce'. Avoid repeating the same phrases and focus on using vocabulary that is more specific to the context of language acquisition.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors, such as 'a person who can learn a foreign language can study the culture of another country that they cannot possibly with their native language'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, for example, 'the student learns' or 'in other country'. These errors occur frequently and occasionally cause the reader to pause. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and then gradually introduce more complex structures like relative clauses or conditional sentences, ensuring you check for subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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