What is this IELTS Task 2 essay about?
This IELTS Task 2 essay tackles one of the most interesting writing topics you might face on exam day — whether creating a new international language would do more good than harm. Below you will find a full Band 7 sample answer, a breakdown of how it scores across all four criteria, and tips to help you write your own high-scoring response. If you are still building your foundation, check out our IELTS Task 2 essay structure guide before reading on.
IELTS Writing Task 2 – New Global Language
Some people say it is necessary to create a new language that improves international communication. Do you think the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?
💡 IELTSRizz tip: “Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?” is one of the most tested question types in IELTS Writing Task 2. You must pick a clear side — sitting on the fence costs you marks under Task Response. Learn more here.
Introduction (General Statement + Thesis Statement)
Creating a new language for international communication means no group holds the advantage of being native speakers, which gives all cultures equal footing. However, I believe the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, particularly when it comes to economic opportunity.
Body paragraph 1 — The Equal Footing Arguement
One potential benefit of a newly created language is that it would place all speakers on equal footing, as no group would hold the advantage of being native speakers. This could create greater empathy in cross-cultural communication, since everyone would face the same learning challenges. However, this equality comes at a significant cost. Without a native-speaking community to serve as a linguistic authority, there would be no reliable standard for resolving disputes over grammar, usage, or meaning. Over time, regional variations would likely emerge, fragmenting the language in much the same way that English has diverged across different parts of the world.
Body paragraph 2 — The Cultural Neutrality
A further drawback concerns cultural neutrality. Proponents of a universal language argue that no single culture would be prioritized over others, which seems fair in principle. However, language and culture are inherently intertwined. A newly created language, stripped of any cultural roots, would inevitably feel sterile and impersonal. Mathematics is often cited as a universal language, yet it carries no cultural warmth or human expression. Communication conducted in a culturally neutral language risks losing the richness and nuance that make human interaction meaningful, making it inferior to existing lingua francas such as English.
Body paragraph 3 — The Economic Drawback
Perhaps the most compelling drawback is economic. Currently, people learn the languages of economically dominant nations in order to access trade, employment, and opportunity. If a new international language were introduced, those dominant nations would have little incentive to adopt it, preferring instead to communicate within their existing networks. As a result, speakers of less dominant languages would lose one of their primary pathways to economic advancement, as language preference among powerful economies would remain unchanged.
Conclusion
While a universal language might reduce linguistic inequality on the surface, it would introduce deeper problems related to the absence of linguistic authority, the loss of cultural identity, and diminished economic opportunity. For these reasons, the drawbacks clearly outweigh the benefits.
Examiner’s breakdown
The essay clearly addresses both sides of the argument before reinforcing the writer’s position in the conclusion. The opinion is consistent throughout, which is a key Band 7 requirement under Task Response.
Coherence and cohesion — Band 7
Paragraphs are well organised with a clear progression from introduction to conclusion. Cohesive devices such as “however,” “furthermore,” and “as a result” are used naturally rather than mechanically.
Lexical resource — Band 7
Notice the use of less common vocabulary: lingua franca, linguistic authority, inherently intertwined, cultural neutrality. These are the kinds of precise, topic-specific words that push an essay from Band 6 to Band 7.
Grammatical range — Band 7
A mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used accurately throughout. Errors are rare and do not affect meaning.
Ian Tanpiuco – Virtual Assistant, Educatorian, and IELTS Rizz Tutor. Ian’s goal is to enhance his students’ IELTS scores through a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on understanding rather than mere memorization.