Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-11-04

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)

It is believed by some individuals that the main reason of learning a oversease language either for work in that country or visit there, whilst others argue that there should be more consequences of learning a foreign language. This essay will discuss both views.

On the one hand, there are several reasons people say that travel or work is the only reason why one learn a new language. Firstly, it is true that learning a new language can get you an international job, if one can communicate with their colleagues proparly and understand the policy of that organization that is what a company needs to grow and learning their language offers that. For instance, in our country most of the MNC company require english proficiency, because these companies have employees from different countries and learning english gave them the oppurtunity to communicate with others and do the work better. In addition, learning a new language can benefit you if you travel to that country or any country that speak that language. It will give you chance to communicate with the locals and also can make your journey more safer and easier.

On the other hand, a common school of thought holds that there are some other reasons why one should learn a new language. To begin with, learning a new language helps to communicate with people around the world, which will give them chance to learn about a new culture. Furthermore, it can be a hobby , because of the globalization one can talk to any person of any corner of the world and learning a new language would definitely help.

To sum up, though there are plenty of reasons for learning a new language, it will be more beneficial if used in order to travel to or work in oversease country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both views and give a concluding preference for using a foreign language to travel or work, so the response addresses the main parts of the prompt. The work-related example about English in multinational companies is relevant, and you explain how language helps communication with colleagues. However, the position is not fully clear: the introduction says only that the essay will discuss both views, while the conclusion favours travel and work without explaining why these purposes are more beneficial. The alternative reasons—cultural learning and having a hobby—are mentioned but not developed with examples or explanation. To strengthen the response, state your opinion clearly in the introduction and support each main reason with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Signposts such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “To sum up” help readers follow the discussion. Within the first body paragraph, the progression from employment to travel is also logical. However, some connections are mechanical, and the second view is compressed into a few broad points rather than developed in a clear sequence. The phrase “because of the globalization” does not make the link to language learning precise, and “Furthermore” introduces the hobby point without explaining how it follows from cultural communication. Use clearer links between claims and explanations, and develop each paragraph around a distinct, supported idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “international job,” “communicate with the locals,” “colleagues,” and “culture.” These choices make the main ideas understandable, and phrases such as “a common school of thought” show an attempt to use less familiar language. However, several inaccurate or awkward choices reduce precision, including “consequences of learning,” “oversease language,” and “make your journey more safer.” There are also spelling errors such as “proparly” and “oppurtunity,” and repeated use of “learning a new language” limits variety. Choose collocations carefully, check spelling, and use alternatives such as “benefits,” “foreign language,” and “language acquisition” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional and relative clauses, as in “if one can communicate with their colleagues” and “which will give them chance to learn about a new culture.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “the main reason of learning” has an incorrect grammatical pattern, “one learn” does not agree with its subject, and “It will give you chance” is missing an article. The sentence beginning “Firstly, it is true…” also becomes overloaded, making its structure difficult to follow. Practise subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries, and divide long sentences when they contain several separate claims.

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.