Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-27

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 5.0)

It is the point of debate that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country. A significant chunk of the community welcomes the conception, whereas the remaining people oppose the same. I entirely accept the phenomenon and explain why in this essay.

There are umpteen arguments about learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country, which go along with my personal perspective. First and the most prominent lies in the fact that human beings should be extra careful with their decisions. Being ignorant can cause several consequences which pose a great threat not only to the environment but also to individuals. To quote an epitome, a survey was conducted by an eminent university in Nepal in 2015, which revealed the findings that 80% of people became the victim of the above-mentioned issue. However, the situation changed drastically after a couple of years.

On the flip side of the coin, there are other indispensable arguments about that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language, which are incumbent to be discussed. The longevity of humans, holistic development of children including academic and personal grooming, environmental concerns and individual growth are the instrumental elements which require huge attention. To exemplify, as per research published in an eminent newspaper, 40% of residents obtained huge benefits from the proposed government reforms. Therefore, these proposed policies will lead to a better living standard.

All the above-discussed assertions lead to the conclusion that although people enjoy numerous benefits due to the trend, the drawbacks associated with the same cannot be glossed over. SO, in my opinion, it would be wise enough to say that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response attempts to address both views and provide an opinion, which satisfies the basic requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas suffers from severe irrelevance and template-like language. While the writer introduces the topic in the first paragraph, the body paragraphs diverge significantly into disjointed arguments about environmental threats, human longevity, and government reforms that bear little to no logical connection to learning a foreign language for travel or work. For instance, the discussion regarding a survey in Nepal concerning environmental dangers does not support the prompt's themes. Consequently, the position is undermined by incoherent content development, placing this criterion at Band 4.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is divided into four paragraphs with basic introductory and concluding frameworks. However, the overall progression lacks internal logic because the arguments presented in the body paragraphs do not flow naturally from the prompt or from each other. Although cohesive devices such as 'First and the most prominent', 'On the flip side of the coin', and 'Therefore' are employed, they are used mechanically and fail to establish genuine relationships between ideas due to the disconnected subject matter. Paragraphing is visible, but the structural cohesion breaks down under the weight of irrelevant content. This corresponds to a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student attempts to use some less common vocabulary items, such as 'umpteen', 'incumbent', 'longevity', and 'instrumental'. However, many of these words are used inappropriately or awkwardly in context, as seen in phrases like 'there are other indispensable arguments about that these are not the only reasons'. There are also instances of awkward phrasing and unidiomatic collocations. While the vocabulary is varied enough to attempt complex ideas, the frequent misuse of words restricts the clarity of the writing, which is characteristic of Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting structures such as noun clauses and conditional-style reasoning. However, control over grammar and sentence architecture is inconsistent. There are noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'There are umpteen arguments about learning a foreign language is in order to travel' and 'arguments about that these are not the only reasons'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but frequent structural slips and awkward syntax occasionally impede smooth reading. Overall, the grammatical performance fits the Band 5.0 level descriptors.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.