Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-24

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)

Learning a foreign language is becoming more common in many countries. Some people believe that the main reason to learn another language is to travel or work abroad, while others think there are other important reasons. I believe both views are reasonable, but learning a language has benefits beyond travel and work.

On the one hand, knowing a foreign language is very useful when people travel to another country. It allows them to communicate with local people, ask for directions and understand important information. It can also make travelling easier and more enjoyable. In addition, speaking another language can help people find jobs in foreign countries. For example, a person who speaks English well may have more opportunities to work in an international company.

On the other hand, there are many other reasons for learning a foreign language. First, it can help people communicate with foreigners in their own country. This can be useful for making new friends and understanding different cultures. Second, learning another language can improve a person’s communication and learning skills. It may also help students in their education because they can read books, watch videos and access information in another language.

In my opinion, travelling and working abroad are important reasons to learn a foreign language, but they are not the only ones. A foreign language can help people in education, social life and understanding other cultures. It can also make people more confident when meeting new people and sharing ideas. Therefore, learning a language is a useful skill that can benefit people in many different parts of their lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views on why people learn foreign languages and clearly stating an examiner-supported personal opinion throughout the essay. In the introduction, the writer establishes their stance: 'I believe both views are reasonable, but learning a language has benefits beyond travel and work.' The body paragraphs logically examine both sides, with the second paragraph exploring travel and work benefits and the third paragraph expanding into cognitive, social, and educational advantages. The ideas are adequately supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as 'a person who speaks English well may have more opportunities to work in an international company.' The position is fully maintained right through to the conclusion, meeting the criteria for a solid Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, signalled effectively by cohesive phrases like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In my opinion'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Within paragraphs, referencing and logical transitions—such as 'First', 'Second', and 'It can also'—help guide the reader smoothly from one point to the next, although some transitions are slightly formulaic. There is a clear overall structure comprising an introduction, two opposing body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. This aligns well with the requirements for a Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates an adequate and functional range of vocabulary suited to the task, including phrases like 'communicate with local people', 'international company', and 'understand different cultures'. There are some attempts to use less common items and collocations, such as 'access information in another language' and 'sharing ideas'. However, the vocabulary tends to be somewhat general and safe rather than sophisticated or precise, reflecting Band 6.0 standards. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout the essay, ensuring that communication is never impeded, but the absence of a wider range of idiomatic or sophisticated lexical chunks prevents the essay from reaching a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student employs a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Examples of complex structures include 'A person who speaks English well may have more opportunities...' and 'First, it can help people communicate with foreigners in their own country.' There are frequent error-free sentences throughout the text, and punctuation is managed correctly. While the range of grammar is somewhat standard and avoids more ambitious or highly complex syntactic variations, the control demonstrated is solid. The frequency and nature of the minor errors are minimal, pointing clearly to a Band 7.0 classification for grammatical accuracy.

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