Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-14

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)

There has been a considerable debate on the benefits and resons for learning foreign languages in recent years.

With the advent of remote learning, numerous people have started learning new languages. According to individuals it is an absolute neccessity to be bilingaul if not trilingual in today's world. Taking up on a new language as a skill, is the most efficient way to be resourceful. It opens up many opportunities and doors for people who want to upgrade their career. Some countries such as Germany and France only prefer individuals who are fluent in their local languages for jobs. Another advantage that other countries such as Germany offer, is that they provide free education to students who are fluent in their local language. By the time these students are ready for job, knowing the foreign language makes them an ideal candidate. It helps them find a job as well as settling in a new country. By being fimilar with the local language it's easier to communicate with the locals there. Whether it's a trip to the grocery store or merely asking directions, all of this becomes considerably easier if people are fimilar with the language. The same advantage is for people who are travelling. Some locals try to scam foreigners. When the foreigner's communicate with them in their language they are less likely to scam them.

However some people argue that learning a different language is not only limited to working abroad or travelling. It is essential for many more reasons. Some countries have a very diverse population. Many people are not aware of the local language of the country they are either visiting or settling in. It becomes extremly difficult to communicate with these people at different setups such as hospitals or resteraunts. It is helpful to learn the basic terminologies of their languages to make communication smoother.

I believe that the only two reasons it is imporatant to learn a foreign language is when people are travelling or working abroad. Other reasons are not big enough for one to strive in learning new languages. The people who are visiting the country should themselves make the effort to be understood and not the other way round.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and state a clear opinion in the final paragraph: you consider travel and employment useful reasons, then argue that other reasons are insufficient. The examples about jobs and education in Germany and France, and communicating in shops or while asking directions, are relevant. However, the opposing view is only briefly developed: the point about communication in hospitals and restaurants is not clearly connected to why people should learn a language beyond travel or work. Your own position also relies on a broad claim that other reasons are “not big enough,” without explaining why cultural understanding, relationships, or access to information matter less. Develop and support both sides more evenly, and make the reasoning behind your conclusion more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: the first main paragraph focuses on work and travel, the next introduces other reasons, and the final paragraph gives your opinion. Linking expressions such as “However” and “By the time” help signal relationships between ideas. Nevertheless, progression within the first paragraph is sometimes loose: career opportunities, free education, settling in, travel, and scams are placed together without a clear grouping or transition. The second view is also compressed into one short paragraph, so the discussion feels unbalanced. Some references, such as “these people,” are not fully clear. Organise each viewpoint into a focused paragraph, use clearer links between examples and claims, and avoid repeating similar points.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “fluent,” “local language,” “communicate,” and “ideal candidate,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited by repeated general terms such as “people,” “language,” and “reasons,” while several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, including “Taking up on a new language as a skill” and “different setups.” Spelling errors are noticeable, for example “resons,” “neccessity,” “bilingaul,” and “extremly”; these reduce the accuracy and polish of the writing. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling carefully. Using vocabulary such as “career prospects,” “cultural exchange,” and “everyday interactions” would help express the ideas more naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including conditional and relative structures, as in “When the foreigner's communicate with them in their language…” and “Some countries such as Germany and France only prefer individuals who are fluent…”. Most ideas remain understandable, but errors in sentence construction and punctuation recur. For example, “Taking up on a new language as a skill, is…” has an unnecessary comma and an awkward structure, while “By the time these students are ready for job” is missing an article. The sentence beginning “The same advantage is for people who are travelling” is also grammatically awkward. Practise building accurate complex sentences, check articles and possessives, and use punctuation to separate clauses clearly.

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