Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-21
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)
Many people now a days think that one should learn a foreign language only if he or she wants to travel the that country, where some people say foreign language is not only for traveling. The opinions from both sides will be discussed in the below essay.
When people say that learning foreign language is only for travelling to that country, its a true fact. Now a days most of the individuals learn foreign language just for travelling to that country. Mostly we see students who travel abroad for higher education spend time to learn foreign language to travel that country. Also there are many people who migrate from there native country to other country learn foreign language. People also search for work in foreign countries also learn foreign language for the purpose of travelling to that country.
On the other hand the people say that learning foreign language in not only for travelling to that country, this is also true till some instant. Some people learn foreign language for teaching. Now a days online teaching is becoming very common, So many people learn foreign language to teach students from foreign countries online. Another instance where we see learning of foreign language other than traveling is intelligence agencies. Many countries give foreign language training in there intelligence agencies to spy on a rivel country and gather intelligence.
In my opinion mostly people learn foreign language only for the purpose for travelling although there are some instances where people learn foreign languages for reasons other than travelling. So we can say that both the opinions are not wrong.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 repetitive and lacks depth. For instance, the argument regarding travel is mentioned multiple times without adding new insights. The examples provided, such as intelligence agencies, are relevant but could be expanded upon to better support the argument. To improve, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-supported point rather than restating the same concept in different ways. The conclusion is present but could be more robust in summarizing the main points discussed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Now a days', 'Also', 'On the other hand'). The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'there native country', where 'there' is used incorrectly for 'their'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would significantly enhance the flow of the essay.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. There is frequent repetition of basic terms like 'foreign language' and 'travelling'. Some word choices are imprecise or incorrect, such as 'till some instant' instead of 'to some extent' and 'rivel country' instead of 'rival country'. To achieve a higher score, focus on using a wider variety of synonyms and more sophisticated collocations related to language learning and global communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include subject-verb agreement, incorrect article usage (e.g., 'travel the that country'), and spelling mistakes like 'rivel' and 'there' (used for 'their'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy would be highly beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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