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)

1.to cope up with the working environment

2.to get better jobs

1.languages are linked to historical and cultural significance and tell about tehir culture

Many people argue that the only reason for learning a foreign language is to travel or to get a job in that country, while others contend that these are not the only cases. Some people also learn different languages to understand the culture and historical background of that country. In my perspective, the reason most individuals actually learn a language is to visit a country or to get better earning opportunities.

It is widely believed that the sole purpose of people learning any foreign language is to travel or to get more job opportunities abroad. In many countries, language is the biggest barrier between the non-natives and the natives. So, the travelers often find it convenient to have some basic knowledge of the language before visiting a country. For example, a recent case study showed that the students with good German language skills were 80% more likely to get a job than those who didn't had a prior knowledge of German.

In contrast, some people believe that this might not be the only purpose of learning any foreign language. According to them, a language is linked to the historical background of a country and tell a lot about its culture and heritage. For instance, when most of the history of a region is linked to a particular language, a better understanding of that language will help a lot in understanding their historical background. In my opinion, the reason most people are learning foreign languages is not to know about the ancestral history, but to get good paying jobs and merge better with the local community.

In conclusion, it is widely said that

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'In conclusion, it is widely said that'. This failure to complete the final paragraph significantly impacts the development of the conclusion. While the main body paragraphs present relevant arguments, the initial bulleted list is unnecessary and should have been integrated into the prose. To improve, ensure all parts of the task are fully developed and that the essay reaches a logical conclusion. The ideas are relevant, but the lack of a finished conclusion prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic paragraphing, but the inclusion of a bulleted list at the start is inappropriate for an academic essay. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In contrast' and 'For instance', which help the flow. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the overall coherence of the piece. The progression of ideas is logical within the body paragraphs, but the lack of a concluding summary means the essay fails to provide a cohesive final overview. Improving the transition between ideas and ensuring a complete structure would enhance the score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. Phrases like 'earning opportunities', 'ancestral history', and 'merge better with the local community' are effective. However, there is some repetition and a lack of more sophisticated, academic vocabulary. There are also minor errors, such as 'didn't had' (should be 'didn't have'). To reach a higher band, the student should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider range of academic vocabulary to demonstrate greater flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'didn't had a prior knowledge' is incorrect, and 'tell a lot about its culture' should be 'tells'. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic tense and agreement errors would be beneficial.

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