Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-27
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)
Learning a foreign language can be for various reasons might that be for work, travel or study etc. Doing so for only the purposes of travelling or working in some foreign country is something I do not agree with.
On the one hand, some people's standpoint is a fact that one may learn a foreign language for travelling or working purposes in a foreign country because it is difficult to survive without understanding their language. One Travels to explore the culture, for business etc. Thus, to do so one should atleast have a basic understanding of the language in order to communicate. For instance, people from various ethnicities are found in America, however all of them are somehow acquainted with English.
On the other hand, some people think a foreign language might not just be for travel or work in a foreign country and this opinion is also credible. Different jobs in one's own country might require knowledge of foreign languages for instance, an interpreter should know different languages to interpret. Furthermore, archaeologists might require understanding of more than one language.
In my opinion, there can a be a multitude of reasoning for learning a foreign language that cannot be limited to just travel work. Mastering different languages can be someone's hobby or or course contents from their Syllabus that they need to ace.
In conclusion, foreign language is not just associated with travelling or working abroad. It can be learned for numerous reasons in one's own homeland.
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 views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped; for instance, the point about archaeologists is mentioned but not explained in terms of why it supports the argument. The conclusion is also quite brief. To improve, you should expand on your examples and ensure each paragraph fully explores the implications of your points to meet the word count and provide a more comprehensive discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the relationship between ideas is more explicitly stated.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'ethnicities,' 'acquainted,' and 'interpreter.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'reasoning for learning' instead of 'reasons for learning' and 'course contents from their Syllabus.' To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing to demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.
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 several grammatical errors, such as 'might that be for' (should be 'whether it be for'), 'there can a be a multitude' (extra 'a'), and 'or or course' (repetition). Punctuation is mostly correct, but some sentence constructions are slightly awkward. To achieve a higher score, focus on eliminating these small slips and aim for more consistent accuracy when using complex structures, as these errors currently prevent the essay from reaching a higher band.
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