Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
No one can deny that some people believe that learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country, while others prefer to think that these are not the only reasons. It is important to admit that both views have their own benefits and detriments. In this essay I will discuss the possible reasons that support each view, and what benefits they bring to society.
On the one hand, the option to think that one who will learn the foreign language for work and travel will gain better understanding of communication, will enjoy the work culture and explore more by knowing their local language has its benefits for many convincing reasons. Most importantly, the perfect example to illustrate this is one who is good with their local language will get the preference at the workplace so that local clients could understand in their own language. On the contrary the major benefit of work and travel is not the only reason why someone should learn a foreign language it has other reasons also like one could be keen to learn foreign language and knowing the culture of the foreign country where they will learn about various new things and explore about the country. To exemplify, it is very exciting to learn new language for example some people love to share their experience and interact with other people.
On the other hand, despite the above argument, other people choose to believe that both the views have many drawbacks which cannot be ignored like learning foreign language for work and travel, so the language will be spoken for limited time period. For example one who is traveling to Paris will speak French for limited time period only. However, while learning foreign language there will be no seriousness to utilize it in daily life. For an instance if one who is speaking their mother tongue will not speak a foreign language at home.
In conclusion, I pen down highlighting that, it seems to me that both the aspects have its pros and cons and choosing the right fit is a good idea as per the convenience. But I believe one should not learn the foreign language only for work and travel one should bring the foreign language in habit so that we get the good outcome of the foreign language are more benefical and its benefits outweigh its drawbacks on the whole.
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 personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the argument regarding the 'drawbacks' of learning a language for travel is unclear and lacks logical depth, as the student suggests that learning a language for a specific purpose is a negative because it is only used for a 'limited time period.' The position is present but could be more clearly articulated throughout the essay. To improve, ensure that each point is fully explained with logical reasoning rather than just stating an opinion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is an attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the contrary,' and 'In conclusion.' However, the flow between sentences is often mechanical and sometimes confusing. For instance, the transition in the second paragraph from the benefits of work-related language learning to the 'contrary' point is abrupt and lacks a clear logical connection. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the use of 'it' in the phrase 'it has other reasons also,' which makes the sentence structure difficult to follow. Improved use of linking words would enhance the overall progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. The student relies on repetitive phrasing, such as 'learn a foreign language' and 'work and travel,' which appear multiple times. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'the option to think' and 'bring the foreign language in habit.' While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions that would demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Issues include missing articles ('the' before 'foreign language'), incorrect verb forms ('one who will learn' instead of 'someone learning'), and awkward phrasing ('I pen down highlighting that'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While the student attempts complex sentences, they are often marred by errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy and sentence construction will help improve the clarity of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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