Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-06
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 people believe that the main purpose of learning foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country, while others argue that there are numerous reasons to learn a foreign language. This essay will discus both perspective before presenting my own opinion why I believe that learning another language has benefits for travelling and working.
On the one hand, learning a foreign language can be extremely useful for people who want to travel and work abroad. Firstly, being able to communicate to local language makes travelling easier because they can ask for directions, food and communicate with local residents. Secondly, foreign language skill can increase employment opportunities because many international companies offer jobs who can communicate with their colleagues from different countries. For instance, a person who speak foreign language fluently ma y have more opportunities to work in international companies.
On the other hand, there are several reasons of learning foreign language apart from travelling and working. One important benefit is that people can understand different cultures and communicate with people from various backgrounds. In addition, learning foreign languages can improve language skills and provide access to learn books, films and educational resources. For instance, students can obtain huge amount of information from international websites and videos even if they do not want to go abroad.
In my opinion, although learning a foreign language is important for travelling and working, that the reason not only once. Through another language people can learn about broaden personal cultures.
In conclusion, foreign language is valuable for people who travel and work abroad. Therefore, this language is beneficial for learning cultures, education and employment.
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, fulfilling the main requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention that learning a language helps with culture and education, these points are not fully extended with specific, compelling examples. Furthermore, your stated opinion in the introduction—that you believe language learning is primarily for travel and work—seems to contradict the prompt's invitation to discuss broader benefits. The conclusion is also slightly repetitive and lacks a strong synthesis of your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure your opinion is clearly stated and consistently supported throughout the essay with more detailed, nuanced reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the one hand', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the benefits of travel and the benefits of culture is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as in the final paragraph where 'this language' is used vaguely. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one will enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'employment opportunities', 'international companies', and 'various backgrounds'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'communicate to local language' (should be 'communicate in the local language') and 'broaden personal cultures'. There is also a tendency to repeat the same phrases, such as 'foreign language' and 'travelling and working'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations, and pay closer attention to the correct prepositional usage to ensure your vocabulary is used with greater accuracy and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder the flow. Examples include 'the reason not only once' (which is unclear), 'a person who speak' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'jobs who can communicate' (incorrect relative pronoun). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. To achieve a higher band, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over complex structures, particularly regarding subject-verb agreement, article usage, and the correct formation of relative clauses. Proofreading for these recurring minor errors would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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