This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of an international language for communication from the real IELTS exam.

It is a tricky one because I have to change the style that I write in because of the ‘advantages and disadvantages’ part.

Usually I like to have one main idea per paragraph and develop it fully.

With this essay there have to be two advantages and two disadvantages to be safe.

See how I handled it below!

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Dave

Before reading, listen to the audio and takes notes on the key words:

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: An International Language

Some believe that we should invent a new language for international communication.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Real Past IELTS Exam

There have been recent calls for the implementation of a novel language to facilitate global communication. In my opinion, though this would make for a more level playing field economically, it is impractical.

Those who support an international language rely on its economic advantages. The salient argument is that it would remove barriers to success currently in place. English is close to a universal language at the moment and those born in English-speaking countries have a clear headstart while those from non-English countries, who cannot afford private instruction, begin life at a disadvantage. A new language would reset these disparities. An added advantage of minimising the value of English would be that developing countries could integrate more deeply with the global market and be better able to extend services, entertainment and products to a wider audience.

However, the disadvantages of this proposal all relate to its feasibility. In an ideal world, we would have a global language but for the time and money required. The best evidence of this is the progress of the world’s current dominant language, English. Countries all around the world pour money and time into funding English education but the majority of the world still cannot attain mastery. A new language would be even more difficult not only because everyone in the world would have to learn it but also because there would be little incentive if you can already communicate with your compatriots and English allows you to talk to a large segment of the world population. The money and time resources required are staggering, unrealistic, and would be detrimental to both individuals and society.

In conclusion, the drawbacks to an international language far outweigh any perceived gains. Instead, countries should continue to fund English education in the hopes of establishing it as a lingua franca.

Analysis

1. There have been recent calls for the implementation of a novel language to facilitate global communication. 2. In my opinion, though this would make for a more level playing field economically, it is impractical.

1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay.
2. Give a clear opinion. You don’t need to include your main ideas now (though I do).

1. Those who support an international language rely on its economic advantages. 2. The salient argument is that it would remove barriers to success currently in place. 3. English is close to a universal language at the moment and those born in English-speaking countries have a clear headstart while those from non-English countries, who cannot afford private instruction, begin life at a disadvantage. 4. A new language would reset these disparities. 5. An added advantage of minimising the value of English would be that developing countries could integrate more deeply with the global market and be better able to extend services, entertainment and products to a wider audience.

1. Write a clear topic sentence – notice that I mention advantageS because I will have to detail 2 in this paragraph.
2. Begin with one of the advantages.
3. Develop it with a strong argument or example.
4. Continue to develop it.
5. Here I mention the second, related advantage. My strategy is to write about related advantages instead of completely different ones. This way I can develop them both at the same time and have a higher task achievement score.

1. However, the disadvantages of this proposal all relate to its feasibility. 2. In an ideal world, we would have a global language but for the time and money required. 3. The best evidence of this is the progress of the world’s current dominant language, English. 4. Countries all around the world pour money and time into funding English education but the majority of the world still cannot attain mastery. 5. A new language would be even more difficult not only because everyone in the world would have to learn it but also because there would be little incentive if you can already communicate with your compatriots and English allows you to talk to a large segment of the world population. 6. The money and time resources required are staggering, unrealistic, and would be detrimental to both individuals and society.

1. Another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Support or explain your main idea.
3. Here I use a specific example.
4. I develop it fully.
5. Focus on developing your main idea with examples/results.
6. Conclude by mentioning both of your disadvantages.

1. In conclusion, the drawbacks to an international language far outweigh any perceived gains. 2. Instead, countries should continue to fund English education in the hopes of establishing it as a lingua franca.

1. Repeat your opinion.
2. Add a final detail/thought.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

There have been recent calls for the implementation of a novel language to facilitate global communication. In my opinion, though this would make for a more level playing field economically, it is impractical.

Those who support an international language rely on its economic advantages. The salient argument is that it would remove barriers to success currently in place. English is close to a universal language at the moment and those born in English-speaking countries have a clear headstart while those from non-English countries, who cannot afford private instruction, begin life at a disadvantage. A new language would reset these disparities. An added advantage of minimising the value of English would be that developing countries could integrate more deeply with the global market and be better able to extend services, entertainment and products to a wider audience.

However, the disadvantages of this proposal all relate to its feasibility. In an ideal world, we would have a global language but for the time and money required. The best evidence of this is the progress of the world’s current dominant language, English. Countries all around the world pour money and time into funding English education but the majority of the world still cannot attain mastery. A new language would be even more difficult not only because everyone in the world would have to learn it but also because there would be little incentive if you can already communicate with your compatriots and English allows you to talk to a large segment of the world population. The money and time resources required are staggering, unrealistic, and would be detrimental to both individuals and society.

In conclusion, the drawbacks to an international language far outweigh any perceived gains. Instead, countries should continue to fund English education in the hopes of establishing it as a lingua franca.

Answers

recent calls people now asking for

implementation putting in place

novel new

facilitate global communication help people from different countries talk

make for allow for

level playing field economically equal opportunity for making money

impractical can’t happen

rely need

salient argument important point

remove barriers take away difficulties

currently in place now happening

clear headstart definite advantage

afford private instruction pay for tutoring

begin life at a disadvantage start behind

reset these disparities make everything even again

minimising making less

integrate more deeply combine more

global market world economy

extend services branch out what they offer

wider audience more people

proposal plan, program

feasibility possibility

ideal world best possible scenario

progress development

current dominant language now the most common language

pour add lots to

funding money

majority most of

attain mastery become really good at

little incentive no reason/motivation

compatriots people from your country

large segment good percentage of

staggering huge

unrealistic not likely to happen

detrimental hurts

outweigh more valuable

perceived gains ostensible benefits

establishing making permanent

lingua franca language that non-native speakers agree to speak with each other

Pronunciation

Listen and repeat:

ˈriːsnt kɔːlz 
ˌɪmplɪmɛnˈteɪʃən 
ˈnɒvəl 
fəˈsɪlɪteɪt ˈgləʊbəl kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən
meɪk fɔː 
ˈlɛvl ˈpleɪɪŋ fiːld ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkəli
ɪmˈpræktɪkəl
rɪˈlaɪ 
ˈseɪliənt ˈɑːgjʊmənt 
rɪˈmuːv ˈbærɪəz 
ˈkʌrəntli ɪn pleɪs
klɪə hɛd stɑːt 
əˈfɔːd ˈpraɪvɪt ɪnˈstrʌkʃən
bɪˈgɪn laɪf æt ə ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤ
ˌriːˈsɛt ðiːz dɪsˈpærɪtiz
ˈmɪnɪmaɪzɪŋ 
ˈɪntɪgreɪt mɔː ˈdiːpli 
ˈgləʊbəl ˈmɑːkɪt 
ɪksˈtɛnd ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
ˈwaɪdər ˈɔːdiəns
prəˈpəʊzəl 
ˌfiːzəˈbɪlɪti
aɪˈdɪəl wɜːld
ˈprəʊgrəs 
ˈkʌrənt ˈdɒmɪnənt ˈlæŋgwɪʤ
pɔː 
ˈfʌndɪŋ 
məˈʤɒrɪti 
əˈteɪn ˈmɑːstəri
ˈlɪtl ɪnˈsɛntɪv 
kəmˈpætrɪəts 
lɑːʤ ˈsɛgmənt 
ˈstægərɪŋ
ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk
ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntl 
aʊtˈweɪ 
pəˈsiːvd geɪnz
ɪsˈtæblɪʃɪŋ 
ˈlɪŋgwə ˈfræŋkə

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

There have been r______________s for the i________________n of a n_______l language to f_______________________________n. In my opinion, though this would m________r a more l____________________________y, it is i______________l.

Those who support an international language r______y on its economic advantages. The s_____________________t is that it would r_________________s to success c___________________e. English is close to a universal language at the moment and those born in English-speaking countries have a c_____________________t while those from non-English countries, who cannot a_______________________n, b___________________________e. A new language would r________________________s. An added advantage of m_____________g the value of English would be that developing countries could i__________________________y with the g_________________t and be better able to e_________________s, entertainment and products to a w____________________e.

However, the disadvantages of this p____________l all relate to its f______________y. In an i_____________d, we would have a global language but for the time and money required. The best evidence of this is the p_____________s of the world’s c_________________________e, English. Countries all around the world p________r money and time into f_____________g English education but the m_____________y of the world still cannot a________________y. A new language would be even more difficult not only because everyone in the world would have to learn it but also because there would be l_________________e if you can already communicate with your c___________________s and English allows you to talk to a l___________________t of the world population. The money and time resources required are s_______________g, u_______________c, and would be d_______________l to both individuals and society.

In conclusion, the drawbacks to an international language far o______________h any p________________s. Instead, countries should continue to fund English education in the hopes of e_________________g it as a l__________________a.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Listen about an attempt to create a universal language that failed:

Reading Practice

Read about English as a lingua franca below:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/10/opinion/sunday/europeans-speak-english.html

Speaking Practice

Answer the following question from IELTS speaking part 2:

Talk about a language that you want to learn. Include:

What it is

Why you want to learn it

How you would learn

Real IELTS Speaking Exam

Writing Practice

Answer the writing topic below then check with my sample answer:

Living in a country where you have to speak a foreign language can cause serious social problems, as well as practical problems.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Real Past IELTS Exam

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Foreign Languages (Cambridge 13)