Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02
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)
Some individuals thought that learning a foreign language is the only reason for travelling or employment in another country. While other people argue that these are not the only causes for which a person learns a second language. This essay will elaborate both arguments in a more detail way.
On the one hand, learning a foreign language enables people to travel or work abroad. Firstly, people acquires another language for travelling outside the country because it enable them to communicate with others without it they will not be able. Consequently, if a person is intended for abroad employment he should also learn another language according to the country where he wants to apply. As foreign job policies require their country's language and except this they can not allow or give job to someone. For example, if a person wants to go to the United states he should learn English as it is their native language.
On the other hand, some people assumes that learning a second language is not mean that they will travel abroad. Some people learn another language because they want to increase their language abilities but not just for travelling. Teachers and professors learn another language as they have to teach their students like English language. Others learns it to make new friends globally specially on Facebook, Twitter and so on. For instance, for online teaching people also learns language, like English, if someone wants to earn they can teach Chinese little students English as they are keen to learn it.
To sum up, learning or acquiring another language encourages people to go or find a job internationally. However, these are not the only reasons for some people to learn a distant language.
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 an opinion, though the opinion is not clearly stated in the introduction or conclusion. The ideas are relevant but lack depth; for instance, the argument regarding employment is somewhat repetitive and relies on simplistic examples like 'going to the United States'. The development of ideas is limited, and the essay would benefit from more sophisticated reasoning regarding the cognitive or cultural benefits of language learning. While all parts of the prompt are addressed, the discussion remains somewhat superficial, preventing a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Firstly', and 'Consequently'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing is occasionally weak, such as in the sentence 'without it they will not be able', where the antecedent is unclear. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two viewpoints, which helps the reader follow the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'intended for abroad employment' instead of 'intending to work abroad' and 'distant language' instead of 'foreign language'. The repetition of basic terms like 'learn' and 'language' limits the lexical variety. While the meaning is generally clear, the student struggles to use less common items with precision, and some collocations are non-standard, which restricts the score to the 5.5–6.0 range.
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 the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('some people assumes', 'others learns'), incorrect verb forms ('people acquires'), and awkward phrasing ('is not mean that'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. While the meaning is usually conveyed, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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