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)
Learning a foreign language has became increasingly popular in today's world.Some individuals believe that the main purpose of learning a foreign language is only for work or travel,While others argue that there are several reasons for learning a new language.This essay will discuss both perspectives and In the end, I will explain my view on this.
On the first hand,travelling and working in a different country is a good way to learn new language because it helps the people to communicate with the local residents, For ordering food and also for asking directions.similarly,The individuals who works need to communicate with their colleagues and customer effectively.For example a person working in Germany find it more suitable to communicate with others and to understands the instruction also to built a good relation with German speaking colleagues.
In contrast,learning a new language can provide numerous benefits even if you are not working or travelling.It help people to understand several cultures,traditions and way of thinking of different people.In addition learning a new language can increase knowledge and provides better communication skills and access to other information directly in its own language.For example a student in German might found it more easy to communicate with his friends in their own language for building better understanding between them.
In my opinion, travelling and employment are valuable reasons to learn a foreign language, but they are certainly not the only ones. A foreign language can improve a person’s education, cultural understanding and communication skills. Therefore, learning another language is beneficial both for international opportunities and for personal development.
In conclusion, although travelling and working abroad are major reasons for learning a foreign language, there are many other advantages. I believe that foreign languages should be learned not only for practical purposes but also for educational and cultural development.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The essay addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the practical benefits of language for travel and work versus the cognitive and cultural benefits for personal development. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the example of a student in Germany is a bit vague and could have been more effectively linked to the broader argument of cultural understanding. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting example is fully explained and directly tied to the topic sentence of the paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast', 'Similarly', and 'In addition'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and there are issues with punctuation and spacing that affect the flow. For example, there is a lack of spaces after commas and periods throughout the text (e.g., 'world.Some', 'residents, For'). Improving the management of referencing and ensuring consistent punctuation would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'international opportunities' and 'personal development'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and form, such as 'has became' (should be 'has become') and 'more easy' (should be 'easier'). To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing, while ensuring that word forms are used correctly in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'The individuals who works' (should be 'work') and 'might found' (should be 'might find'). Additionally, there are persistent punctuation errors, specifically missing spaces after punctuation marks, which makes the text look unpolished. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and punctuation would be beneficial.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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