Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-02
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)
Language plays a key role in the lives of human beings. In this regard, it is believed by some people that the only reason for learning a foreign language is in order to travel to or work in a foreign country, whereas these are not only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. I agree with the latter viewpoint in this notion which I will discuss in the upcoming paragraphs with a logical conclusion.
On the one side, there are some reasons due to which people learn foreign language in order to travel or work in foreign country. The first and foremost reason is that people can earn more money at abroad or they like travelling. To explain it more , it enhances the knowledge of people and improves their communication skills. Moreover, they can settle their life in a foreign country by earning good money at work.
On the other hand, education is also reason for learning a foreign language. To clarify it more, it is easier for students to study abroad and they want to know about the culture of other people. For example, students who are doing IELTS, they are learning a foreign language to go abroad for higher education. Moreover, it goal of students to go in a foreign country for further education to become Doctors and Engineers etc.
In conclusion, while there are some benefits of formal viewpoints such as enhance the knowledge of students and improve communication skills. Yet, education cannot be overlooked at any cost.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both views—that learning a language is solely for travel and work, and that other reasons exist—while offering a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas remains limited and under-developed. For instance, the discussion on working abroad states that people can earn more money and like travelling, but this point lacks sufficient extension or specific examples. Similarly, the second body paragraph introduces education, noting that students study abroad or wish to understand other cultures, yet this is supported only by a passing mention of IELTS and general goals rather than deeper analysis. The position is stated in the introduction, but the overall treatment is somewhat repetitive and touches upon aspects of the task only partially, leaving several ideas underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays some organization with a basic introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, showing an attempt at a logical arrangement. However, there is no clear overall progression of ideas across the text. Cohesive devices are frequently inadequate, inaccurate, or overused, such as the repetitive use of connective phrases like 'To clarify it more' and 'Moreover'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas lacks smooth transitions. Referencing is also occasionally unclear, particularly with pronouns and transitional phrases like 'in this notion' and 'formal viewpoints', which do not accurately link the arguments together, resulting in a somewhat mechanical flow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic meaning of the arguments. There are noticeable errors in word choice, collocation, and word form that occasionally cause some difficulty for the reader or require them to re-read. Examples include the unnatural phrasing 'earn more money at abroad', 'settle their life in a foreign country', and referring to views as 'formal viewpoints' instead of 'former viewpoints'. While the writer attempts to use less common vocabulary such as 'communication skills' and 'higher education', these are accompanied by lexical inaccuracies and repetition of basic terms like 'foreign language' and 'foreign country', reflecting a constrained lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The grammar demonstrates a limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside attempts at complex forms that are often faulty. There are frequent errors in verb forms, articles, prepositions, and sentence construction. Noticeable grammatical mistakes include 'whereas these are not only reasons' (missing article), 'due to which people learn foreign language' (missing article and pluralization), 'earn more money at abroad' (incorrect preposition), and 'it goal of students to go' (missing verb). Punctuation and agreement errors are also present throughout the text. These frequent errors across various sentence patterns can cause some difficulty for the reader.
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.