Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-01

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 foreign language has become increasingly common nowadays. Some people argue that the only purpose for learning a foreign language is to travel or to work in a foreign country. Others say that these are not the only reasons why someone should learn a foreign language. I believe that being exposed to foreign languages is crucial beyond simply travelling or working in another country.

In order to travel, study, and work in a foreign country, learning its language is essential. learning another language opens various job opportunities in multinational companies, as many companies need their employee can communicate with clients easily. In addition, students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. or Master's degree abroad are often required to demonstrate their English proficiency through an internationally organized test such as IELTS or TOEFEL. Therefore, the language barrier should be overcome to study abroad.

However, learning another language has other benefits beyond working or studying in another country. For instance, access to education and knowledge and understanding different cultures. learning a foreign language such as English allow students to access more educational materials, as most research papers, books, and academic resources are published in English. Furthermore, people who have different languages can understand other societies history, traditions and ways of thinking. consequently, it is important for cultural awareness.

To conclude, learning a foreign language has become increasingly common, because its benefit for different aspects such as travelling, studying, and work. In addition, its important is even for accessing materials and understanding different societies. For my perspective, learning another language is generally important even for whom planning to stay at their countries.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You discuss both views and state a clear general opinion: learning languages matters beyond travel and work. The examples about employment, overseas study, educational resources, and cultural understanding are relevant. However, the discussion is only partially developed: the first view is mainly supported by brief claims, and the second view lists benefits without explaining them in much depth. Your conclusion repeats the main points rather than sharpening your position. The response also falls one word short of the required 250 words, so it does not meet the task’s minimum length. To strengthen the response, explain how each example demonstrates the value of language learning and make your own view more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Linking expressions such as “In addition,” “However,” and “To conclude” help signal the direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The sentence beginning “For instance” is followed by a fragment, “access to education and knowledge and understanding different cultures,” rather than a complete explanation. The conclusion also repeats ideas without clearly drawing them together. Use complete topic sentences and connect each example to the point it supports; vary transitions so that the argument develops rather than reading as a list.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “job opportunities,” “language barrier,” “educational materials,” and “cultural awareness.” This gives you enough range to communicate the main ideas, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which limits precision. For example, “their employee can communicate” does not express the intended idea naturally, and “for my perspective” is not an appropriate phrase for introducing an opinion. There are also spelling errors in “TOEFEL” and “societies history.” Aim to learn common word partnerships and check spelling and word forms carefully. More precise phrasing would make your ideas easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional-style clause in “students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. or Master's degree abroad” and a reason clause introduced by “as.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include the missing verb in “as many companies need their employee can communicate,” the agreement error in “English allow students,” and the incomplete sentence “For instance, access to education and knowledge and understanding different cultures.” Capitalisation after full stops is also inconsistent, as in “learning” and “consequently.” Practise building complete sentences and checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation before submitting.

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