Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-28

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)

In today's rapidly changing world many aspects of human life are evolving significantly. In the view of some people studying an alien language is mainly related to working or travelling in that specific country whereas, others believe that there can be other purposes for that. This essay will discuss both views on learning another language before concluding which one of both views is more understandable.

While some people believe that learning an alien language is mainly related to getting work or travelling in that specific country. That's because that is what we have been seeing from the start and it's the most common reason as well. Although there is a common reason behind this saying as well and that's the immense migration of youth from country.

Meanwhile, some say that there can be other reasons for learning a different language as well like working for that specific country but residing in own country, some learn because their profession is related to language. Moreover, some learn it out of curiosity, some learn to talk to tourists. On the other hand, one rare reason can be if they learn because that is their habit.

Although both points are valid but sometimes, they might cause confusion and even a dispute between two groups.

In conclusion, to study a different language isn't a thing to be shame of but be proud of and should encourage more people to learn. It may turn out a beneficial thing for them someday. but it will never be a loss no matter how dire the situation is.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The essay addresses both views as requested, but the development of ideas is superficial. While you mention reasons for learning a language, such as migration or curiosity, these points are listed rather than extended with supporting evidence or examples. The prompt asks for your own opinion, but your conclusion is vague and does not clearly state which view you support or why. To reach a higher band, you need to provide more depth in your arguments and ensure your personal position is clearly articulated and maintained throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the logical flow is often interrupted by awkward phrasing and repetitive sentence structures. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand', their usage is sometimes mechanical or slightly misused. The transition between ideas is not always smooth, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. You frequently use the term 'alien language', which is not a natural collocation in this context; 'foreign language' or 'second language' would be more appropriate. There is also a tendency to use simple, repetitive phrasing. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and synonyms to express your ideas more precisely. For example, instead of saying 'a beneficial thing', you could use 'a valuable asset' or 'a significant advantage'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include incorrect article usage (e.g., 'from country'), subject-verb agreement, and awkward sentence fragments (e.g., 'That's because that is what we have been seeing...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and sentence boundaries. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect prepositions before attempting more complex structures.

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

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