Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-27

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 5.5)

Learning a new language can be beneficial for many purposes such as travelling, working etc. People have different opinion on this as some think that foreign language is efffective only for travel or official purpose. On the other hand, some consider that it has much more broader perspective in different ways.

Language is an essential part of communication in any nation. Whenever someone goes outside their native land for vaccation or any corporate purpose, the first barrier he faces is the language barrier. Without having proper knowledge of that foreign language, it is really difficult for them to communicate with the local people. Additionally, they face challenges in describing their piece of work, or any sort of difficulties to the local or the concerned person. For instance, someone wants to visit the sea shore of Turkey but does not know the turkish language. He doesn't know the route plan and was unable to communicate with locals. So his vaccation was hampered somehow for this.

On the other hand, some shared their opinion that learning a foreign language can't be the only reason for travel or work purpose. Rather they feel that it has a broader perspective. Some might have immense interest in learning foreign language and culture. Some might have some educational course in foreign language. So he might needs to learn that for passing examination. Learning a new language helps people to learn new culture as well.

Based on two statements, learning a foreign language can be super effective for the employees and tourists. And sometimes it has broader perspective rather than just these two.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views: the travel/work paragraph explains practical communication problems, while the next paragraph gives cultural interest and education as other motives. Your position is present in the conclusion, which accepts both purposes, but it is not stated clearly enough earlier or developed in detail. The Turkey example supports the travel point, although it focuses on a route and a disrupted holiday rather than showing the wider value of language learning. The alternative reasons are listed briefly, with little explanation of how cultural learning or study benefits someone. To strengthen the response, state your own view directly in the introduction and develop each main reason with a specific explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for practical reasons, one for other motives, and a concluding statement. Transitions such as “On the other hand” help signal the shift between views, and “Additionally” introduces a related point. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, and some references are unclear—for example, “So he might needs to learn that” leaves the reader to infer what “that” refers to. The conclusion also repeats the two sides without bringing the discussion together into a precise final position. Use clearer links between claims and examples, and make pronoun references explicit so the argument flows more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “language barrier,” “communicate,” “corporate purpose,” and “broader perspective,” which makes the main ideas understandable. There are also attempts at less common expressions, but some are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “much more broader perspective,” “piece of work,” and “super effective.” Spelling errors in “efffective,” “vaccation,” and “turkish” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Some wording is repeated, particularly “purpose” and “foreign language,” so the vocabulary does not always express ideas precisely. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling; for example, use “a wider range of reasons” and “highly beneficial” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the conditional structure “Without having proper knowledge … it is really difficult” and the example beginning “Whenever someone goes outside…”. Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors remain. For instance, “People have different opinion” needs plural agreement, and “So he might needs to learn” combines incompatible verb forms. The sentence “some shared their opinion that learning … can’t be the only reason” also shifts tense awkwardly, while “some consider that it has much more broader perspective” has a faulty comparative structure. Review subject–verb agreement, verb forms after modal verbs, and comparative constructions, then proofread longer sentences for consistent tense and structure.

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