Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-24

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 6.0)

While it is important that learning a foreign language for touring and working in a country is beneficial for an individual but it is not the only reason to learn. Knowing a new, different language also helps in determining foreign relations, trade and being informed in foreign cultures, social trends & history of that particular region.

It is generally acknowledged that people tends to learn a new language only for travelling or to pursue a job in a foreign land. If a particular person knows some words that he or she can use while touring in a country, it helps them tremendously to converse with the local people and also to satisfy their general inquiries about direction, accommodation or to greet someone in general. It is found that when people encounters a foreigner using their mother tongue, they become friendly, generous and more willing to help that person.

In order to get a job in foreign country, most of the times it is necessary to know the language of the land. Without proper understanding of the dialect, one cannot simply expect to get a job. Official documents, meetings, ideas exchange, devising strategies, appealing to mass people, everything is done in that foreign language. So, to survive and to support a career, one must know the particular foreign language.

With that being said, if one thinks, learning a new language is only for travelling and job purposes, then that person is utterly wrong. To give an illustration, one working in a foreign ministry in their own country has to know some foreign languages in order to establish good relations with overseas and surrounding countries. Having enough depth in second or third language other than mother tongue is a must for foreign diplomacy. It is also evident that when importing products or machineries from another country, knowing their language is important to read the contents, manuals and specifications of those things. In scientific research areas, one cannot shine in their career without knowing other international languages.

So, learning a foreign language is not only confined to solely for travelling and job purposes but it has varied reasons for which people learn a foreign tongue to survive in this modern world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly discuss both views—the necessity of language for travel and work, and the broader benefits such as diplomacy and research—and provide a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-supported with examples like foreign ministry work and scientific research. To reach a higher band, ensure that your personal opinion is more explicitly integrated into the introduction and conclusion, rather than just implied. The development is logical, though some points, such as the specific benefits of language in scientific research, could be expanded with more depth to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'With that being said' and 'In order to' to link your arguments. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow could be smoother. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be improved to better connect the two aspects of the first viewpoint. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure effectively guides the reader through your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'foreign diplomacy', 'devising strategies', and 'appealing to mass people' show an attempt to use more sophisticated language. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'determining foreign relations' (which should be 'maintaining' or 'fostering') and 'appealing to mass people' (which is slightly unnatural). While you successfully convey your meaning, increasing your use of less common lexical items and refining your collocations would help you achieve a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are recurring grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For instance, 'people tends to learn' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'when people encounters' (another agreement error). Additionally, the opening sentence has a structural issue: 'While it is important that... but it is not...' is redundant. Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding redundant conjunctions in complex sentences.

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

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