Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-26

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 4.5)

some people believe that the only reason for learning a foreign language to travel or work in a foreign country, while others think that that why some people should learn a foreign language. In my opinion, both reasons are correct because it dependent on the people what they are going to do.

on the one hand, some people say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is essential because if people traveling too foreign country, they should now the languages because it's beneficial for them to understand the culture and they can do their works smoothly and not even works, as a student also learning language is beneficial. For example,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under-length at only 112 words, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. The ideas are severely underdeveloped; the essay stops abruptly mid-sentence, leaving the argument incomplete. While the student attempts to acknowledge both sides of the prompt, the lack of development and the failure to reach the required length prevent a higher score. To improve, the student must provide full paragraphs for each viewpoint, include relevant examples, and ensure a clear, sustained position throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization by using 'on the one hand' to introduce a viewpoint. However, the progression is interrupted by the incomplete nature of the text. Paragraphing is present but ineffective due to the brevity of the content. Cohesive devices are limited and somewhat mechanical. The text lacks a clear conclusion or a cohesive flow between the introduction and the body. To improve, the student should focus on using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and supporting details.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on the wording provided in the prompt (e.g., 'learning a foreign language', 'foreign country'). There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'it dependent on the people' instead of 'it depends on the individual'. The range is limited and insufficient to express complex ideas effectively. To improve, the student should aim to use more precise synonyms and collocations related to the topic, such as 'linguistic proficiency', 'cultural immersion', or 'career advancement', rather than repeating simple phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'the only reason for learning a foreign language to travel' (missing verb), 'they should now the languages' (incorrect word choice/spelling), and 'not even works, as a student also learning language is beneficial' (fragmented, unclear structure). The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, verb tense consistency, and proofreading for common errors like missing articles or incorrect verb forms.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.