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)

The statement decsribes the two opinions about learning a foreign language as some people think of learning it is to travel to a foreign country while others don't support this view. As the perks of learning a foreign language may involve exposure to a foreign culture more easily. I strongly disagree that the only reason for learning this language should involve a need to travel abroad.

In my opinion, learning a foreign language gives you confidence to understand the difference between local and foreign culture. For example, if I want to watch a movie of some other country, I will enjoy by easily understanding the language. Precisely, the advantage of learning a foreign language will give you exposure to a different culture.

Secondly, a foreign language can help us in moving from country to another. For example, if I want to visit Germany, the German language will make it easy for me to communicate to people without translation. Hence, learning a foreign language will ease the experience of travelling.

Also, by learning a foreign language, people can talk to foreigners in their home country. For example, if there are some students in my college from Germany, and they need guidance for living and spending their time in campus. With the learning experience of German language, I would love to help them in their own language. In this way, trust relationship can also be built. So, the advantage of learning a foreign language is also making new friends who belong to other country.

To summarize, learning a foreign language can help us in understanding the dynamics of other culture. It can also help us in making us more social and confident.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You give a clear opinion that learning a language has value beyond travel, and your examples about understanding films and helping German students are relevant. However, the task asks you to discuss both views, and the view that travel or overseas work is the only reason receives little direct consideration. Travel is mentioned as a benefit, but working abroad is not discussed, and the opposing argument is not explained before you state your disagreement. Several points are also repeated, particularly cultural exposure, without being fully developed. To strengthen the response, explain why some people prioritise travel and work, then compare those reasons with other benefits such as cultural understanding and communication in one’s own country.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for examples, and a concluding summary. Sequencing words such as “Secondly,” “Also,” and “To summarize” help signal movement between points. However, the overall progression is not always clear: the first body paragraph develops cultural exposure, while the next shifts to travel, but the essay does not clearly organise these as the two views in the prompt. Some linking is mechanical, and repeated phrases such as “For example” and “the advantage of learning a foreign language” make the connections feel repetitive. The sentence beginning “As the perks…” is also detached from the preceding sentence. Grouping the arguments more deliberately and using clearer links between claims and examples would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “foreign culture,” “communicate,” “guidance,” and “trust relationship,” and the reader can generally understand your intended meaning. There are, however, noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, such as “decscribes,” “perks,” and “trust relationship,” as well as awkward combinations like “enjoy by easily understanding the language” and “moving from country to another.” The repeated use of “foreign language,” “advantage,” and “For example” also limits the range. Aim for more precise, natural collocations and vary how you refer to the benefits. For instance, “build trust” is more idiomatic than “trust relationship,” while “gain insight into another culture” expresses your cultural point more precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including conditional examples such as “if I want to visit Germany” and a clause beginning “if there are some students in my college from Germany.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors occur often enough to make some sentences awkward or unclear. For example, “The statement decsribes… as some people think of learning it is to travel” has a faulty structure, and “As the perks of learning a foreign language may involve…” is a sentence fragment. Other issues include “communicate to people” and “help us in making us more social,” where the grammatical patterns are not well controlled. Practise building complete sentences around one main idea, and check verb patterns, articles, and prepositions.

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.