Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-07

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 becomes important when travelling or working in a foreign country. Some argue that it has other benefits apart from this. While this essay discuss both views, I believe a language should be learnt when spoken.

People believe learning a new language is important when travelling or working in a country where a foreign language is used. It helps them to communicate and express well, socialize with people and build strong relations. Additionally, it helps in networking and building opportunities career wise. Consequently, not knowing the language could have implications when dealing with government, administrative and daily works. It becomes essential skill to acquire when living in a country with different native language.

However, some argue that a person should not limit themselves to a thought of just travelling and working. People learning a new language can increase there receptiveness and cognitive ability, which can help their mind be active and healthy. An individual who has learnt one or more languages can communicate with foreigners. People could also explore professional careers in such fields, such as a translator.

In my view, i think a language should be learnt best when it is of use, learning a language takes a lot of effort. If a person is not using that language in daily use, is not going to travel or work in that country where it is being spoken , then over the time you will not be able to recall it. It then becomes necessary to brush up or revise the language.

In conclusion, learning a new language is a skill. It is done so as to make our life easy when living in another country or simply when you have interest in learning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph effectively discusses the practical benefits of language learning for travel and work, the second paragraph regarding cognitive benefits is less detailed. The conclusion is a bit simplistic and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To improve, ensure that the personal opinion is more clearly integrated throughout the essay rather than just stated in the introduction and a brief paragraph. The ideas are relevant, but they require more depth and specific examples to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally,' 'Consequently,' and 'However' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, although the connection between the second body paragraph and the personal opinion paragraph could be smoother. Referencing is mostly clear, but there are instances where the flow is slightly disrupted by repetitive sentence structures. Overall, the essay is easy to follow, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their points clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'receptiveness,' 'cognitive ability,' and 'administrative.' However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'express well' (better: 'express themselves clearly') and 'daily works' (better: 'daily tasks'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise and varied vocabulary would be needed for a higher score. Spelling is generally accurate, with only minor slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'increase there receptiveness' (should be 'their'), 'i think' (should be capitalized 'I'), and 'is not going to travel' (missing subject 'it'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some awkward phrasings that affect the flow. The control of complex structures is inconsistent, and the errors, while not impeding communication, are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and pronoun usage would be beneficial.

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