Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-17

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 6.5)

It is often argued that people learn a foreign language mainly because they want to travel or work in another country, while others believe that there are several other reasons for doing so. Although travelling and employment are important motivations, I believe that learning another language can also provide educational, cultural and personal benefits.

On the one hand, travelling and working abroad are two major reasons why people learn foreign languages. When people visit another country, knowing the local language can make their journey much easier. They can communicate with local people, ask for directions, order food and deal with everyday situations without depending on others. Similarly, those who plan to work abroad may need to learn the language of that country to communicate effectively with their colleagues and clients. For example, a person who moves to Germany for employment may benefit greatly from learning German, both in the workplace and in daily life. Therefore, it is understandable why some people consider travel and employment to be the main purposes of learning another language.

On the other hand, there are many reasons for learning a foreign language that are unrelated to travelling or working abroad. Firstly, learning another language allows people to understand different cultures and communicate with people from different backgrounds. Nowadays, people can make friends with others around the world through social media without ever visiting their countries. Secondly, foreign languages can provide access to educational resources, books, films and other forms of entertainment. For instance, someone who learns Spanish can enjoy Spanish films and literature in their original form instead of relying on translations. Furthermore, learning a new language can be an enjoyable hobby and may also improve skills such as memory and concentration.

In conclusion, while travelling and working overseas are significant reasons for learning a foreign language, I do not believe that they are the only ones. People can also learn languages to understand other cultures, access educational and entertainment content, communicate with people internationally and pursue a personal interest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on why people learn foreign languages—namely travel and work versus other motivations such as culture, education, and personal interest—and clearly presents a well-developed personal position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as moving to Germany for employment or enjoying Spanish films in their original form. The response maintains a clear position throughout, meeting the criteria for a Band 7.0 or higher. Because the arguments are fully articulated and logically justified across the body paragraphs, this satisfies the requirements for a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by two well-balanced body paragraphs addressing the opposing views, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Similarly', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the structure is easy to follow. Although some cohesive phrasing is fairly standard, the logical flow is maintained smoothly from start to finish, fitting comfortably within the Band 7.0 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suitable for an academic essay. Expressions such as 'major reasons', 'depend on others', 'access to educational resources', and 'in their original form' show a natural control of language. There are also attempts at less common lexical items, such as 'motivations', 'cultivate', and 'employment'. Word choice and spelling are generally accurate, and although the vocabulary does not frequently venture into advanced uncommon idioms or sophisticated collocation typical of higher bands, it is precise enough to communicate ideas clearly and without error.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms. The student successfully incorporates subordinate clauses, such as 'When people visit another country, knowing the local language can make their journey much easier' and 'Although travelling and employment are important motivations, I believe that...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing good control of grammar and punctuation. While there are no major structural errors that impede communication, the range of complex syntactic structures is slightly restricted compared to higher bands, aligning well with the Band 7.0 level.

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