Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-25

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)

The debate surrounding learning a foreign language has led to contrasting views. While some people believe that learning a foreign language is only for travelling, others argue that learning a new language has other benefits. This essay will discuss both perspectives and explain why I believe that learning a foreign language has many reasons.

Those who support that learning a language argue that you need to be educated to other languages so you can work at multiple cities. One clear example is that when someone wants to work at a company they ask him what languages do you speak, and if he speaks 3 languages he might be a priority on others. Supporters further claim that mastering more than language will help you in your career because you can work as a translator beside you primary work, which reinforces the idea that learning foreign language will help you in your work.

On the other hand, proponents of learning a new language has many reasons believe that learning a language will help you in your social life as well. For instance, when you learn more than a language you can make friends from other countries when you travel or even online. Moreover, they argue that you can also be a teacher and give your knowledge to other people that may need your help, suggesting that learning a language has many reasons.

To conclude, although learning a language can benefit you at work, helping people to learn a language appears more compelling. Because you will benefit yourself and the world, I firmly believe that learning a foreign language has many reasons and benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the argument that learning a language helps with work is mentioned in both the first and second body paragraphs, and the conclusion simply repeats that there are 'many reasons' without synthesizing the specific points made. To reach a higher band, you should ensure each paragraph introduces distinct, well-supported ideas rather than restating the same general point. The response is relevant, but the depth of analysis could be improved by exploring the cognitive or cultural benefits of language learning more specifically.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Moreover' to link sentences and paragraphs effectively. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'proponents of learning a new language has many reasons believe'. This creates a slight disruption in the flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that sentences are grammatically linked will help achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'learning a language' and 'many reasons' repeatedly throughout the text. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'be educated to other languages' instead of 'exposed to' or 'proficient in'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to linguistics, career advancement, and cultural exchange, and avoid repeating the same phrases in every paragraph.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('proponents... has many reasons believe') and awkward phrasing ('when someone wants to work at a company they ask him what languages do you speak'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. Focusing on error-free complex sentences and refining your control over verb tenses and prepositions will significantly improve your score.

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