Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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)

Nowadays, learning a foreign language has become common subject of discussion. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this development. This essay will discuss the main benefits and drawbacks of learning foreign language before giving my opinion.

There are several advantages of learning foreign language. The first major benefit is that it makes a person more competitive in the job market. This is because a person can easily communicate to foreign investor or foreign companies. For example, if you are better in communicate in their language it gives you better job opportunities in that country. one other benefit of knowing language of that country can reduces language barriers when travelling or study abroad.

However learning a foreign language also has some disadvantages. The main drawback is that you have spend lot of time to master it. This happen because of Grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure can be challenging. For instance, If someone rarely interacts with speakers of that language, they may not get much opportunity to use it. Another problem is that a person can gradually forget vocabulary and grammar without regular practice. Therefore, Language courses, tutors, textbooks, and examinations can be expensive.

In conclusion, learning foreign language has both positive and negative aspects. While knowing foreign language can increase your job opportunities, but mastering new language require lot of time and expense. In my opinion, learning new language is important because it is one time investment of time than after it give lot of benefits. Therefore, the best approach would be to learn as much as possible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both views and providing an opinion. However, the task asks to discuss the specific views mentioned (travel/work vs. other reasons like cognitive or cultural benefits). The student focuses on 'advantages and disadvantages' of learning a language generally, rather than specifically debating the provided perspectives. The opinion is clear, but the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the argument regarding 'job opportunities' is relevant, but the 'other reasons' (such as cultural appreciation or cognitive development) are not explicitly explored as requested by the prompt. To improve, ensure the essay directly engages with the specific arguments presented in the task instructions rather than shifting the focus to general pros and cons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'The first major benefit', 'However', and 'In conclusion', which help the flow of ideas. However, some transitions are mechanical or slightly repetitive. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'This happen because of Grammar...', where the subject reference is imprecise. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that the logical progression between sentences is smoother and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There is some repetition of basic phrases like 'learning foreign language' and 'job opportunities'. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'better in communicate' instead of 'better at communicating'. While the meaning is always clear, the student relies on a limited set of words and struggles with articles (e.g., 'mastering new language' instead of 'mastering a new language'). To improve, incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'linguistic proficiency', 'career advancement', or 'cultural immersion', and pay closer attention to article usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include missing articles ('mastering new language'), subject-verb agreement errors ('mastering new language require'), and incorrect verb forms ('can reduces'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are errors in sentence construction, such as the run-on structure in the conclusion: 'While knowing foreign language can increase your job opportunities, but mastering new language require lot of time and expense.' To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex structures.

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

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