Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-16

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)

Although learning a foreign language can be a very difficult process, it can be very interesting as well. People can have so many advantages by learning a foreign language; there are so many high-level jobs in their own country which have requirement to learn a foreign language.

In my opinion, learning a foreign language can be a very interesting choice of subject, not just because it can help individuals when they travel, but also because it can open so many new opportunities for people. Apart from work, learning a new language gives a person an edge and will be seen as a very learned person when sitting with friends or family, which can be very good for self-esteem and confidence.

Everything that has advantages has some downsides also; learning a new or foreign language also has its disadvantages, such as if people spend so much time learning a new language, instead of that they can even learn new skills which can be very helpful in their career and can give their career a much-needed boost. Secondly, it can be very distressing to learn a new language from the very start, as it can get difficult and frustrating to learn to speak it from the very basics.

Lastly, in my opinion, people should learn new and foreign languages in order to increase their communication skills and also to make them stand apart from everyone in the room.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You give a clear personal view that language learning has value beyond travel and overseas work, mentioning domestic job opportunities, confidence, and communication. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the argument for learning specifically to travel or work abroad is not developed: travel appears briefly, while overseas work is not explained. The paragraph about disadvantages also takes space away from comparing the two positions, and its points are not clearly tied to the question. Your examples remain general rather than illustrating a specific benefit. The response is also 14 words below the required minimum. To strengthen the answer, explain each view directly, support the points with a relevant example, and make your opinion follow from that discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to your opinion, a paragraph on disadvantages, and a concluding view. Linking expressions such as “Apart from work,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly” help signal stages in the discussion. However, the progression is not consistently focused on the two views in the prompt: the disadvantages paragraph interrupts the comparison, and the conclusion repeats the idea of communication and standing apart without drawing together the arguments. Some connections are also awkward, particularly “Everything that has advantages has some downsides also,” which does not clearly link to the preceding point. Organise the body around the two stated views, use clear topic sentences, and make each paragraph advance the discussion rather than introduce a side issue.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for the topic, including “opportunities,” “self-esteem,” “confidence,” “distressing,” and “frustrating.” These choices communicate your ideas and show some willingness to use less basic language. However, several phrases are imprecise or unnatural, such as “high-level jobs,” “have requirement to learn,” and “make them stand apart from everyone in the room.” Repetition of “new language,” “foreign language,” and “very” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated terms; for example, describe employment roles as requiring language proficiency and explain the practical advantage more specifically. This would make your vocabulary sound more natural and better suited to an academic discussion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “Although” and “as,” and most of your meaning remains understandable. There are, however, recurring problems in sentence construction and grammatical patterns. In “there are so many high-level jobs in their own country which have requirement,” the relative clause is awkward and the noun phrase needs an article or plural form. The sentence beginning “such as if people spend so much time” is also difficult to control, with an unclear comparison in “instead of that they can even learn.” Some long sentences combine several ideas without clear grammatical links. Practise building accurate complex sentences with clear subjects and parallel structures, and check articles, agreement, and punctuation when editing.

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

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