IELTS Writing Task 2 prompt
Some people think that the growing use of English as a global language will lead to the disappearance of other languages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Source practice test: IELTS Writing Test 11
Band 9 model answer
Expert-level response
It is often argued that the spread of English as a lingua franca will eventually drive smaller languages into extinction. While I accept that English does exert considerable pressure on minority tongues, I believe this outcome is far from inevitable, since language survival depends on far more than the presence of a dominant global rival.
There is undeniable evidence that widespread English use can erode other languages, particularly where it dominates education, business and digital media. Younger generations in many countries increasingly favour English for career advancement, and when a language loses its function in the workplace or classroom, its transmission to children often weakens within a generation or two. Several indigenous languages across Africa, Asia and the Pacific have indeed declined under precisely these pressures, so the concern is grounded in real precedent rather than mere speculation.
Nevertheless, the assumption that this pattern will become universal overlooks the resilience of linguistic communities and the deliberate policies many governments now pursue. Countries such as France, Japan and Iceland actively protect their national languages through legislation, media quotas and education systems that reinforce daily use, demonstrating that bilingualism, not replacement, is the more common trajectory. Moreover, English itself frequently functions only as a second language reserved for international communication, existing alongside a mother tongue rather than supplanting it entirely. Digital tools have also made it easier than ever to document, teach and revitalise endangered languages, giving smaller linguistic communities resources that simply did not exist a generation ago. Welsh and Maori, for instance, have both seen a genuine resurgence in speaker numbers despite operating in predominantly English-speaking societies.
In conclusion, although English undeniably threatens languages that lack institutional support or a strong base of daily speakers, I disagree that its global rise will inevitably erase linguistic diversity altogether. With appropriate policy, education and community commitment, most languages can coexist alongside English rather than vanish because of it.
Why this meets Band 9
- Task Response: the essay takes a clear, consistent partial-disagreement stance and directly answers 'to what extent', acknowledging genuine risk while firmly rejecting inevitability.
- Coherence and Cohesion: paragraphs are logically sequenced from concession to counter-argument, with cohesive devices like 'nevertheless' and 'moreover' used naturally rather than mechanically.
- Lexical Resource: precise, topic-specific vocabulary such as 'lingua franca', 'linguistic resilience', 'revitalise' and 'supplanting' is used accurately and idiomatically throughout.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: a wide range of complex structures, including conditionals, relative clauses and subordination, are controlled with no errors that affect meaning.
Band 6 sample answer
Competent but limited response
Nowadays, English is used all over the world and some people believe that this will make other languages disappear. In my opinion, I do not fully agree with this idea, because I think other languages can still survive even if English becomes more popular.
Firstly, it is true that English is very important now. Many people learn English for their jobs and for studying abroad, and in some countries, young people prefer to speak English instead of their own language. Because of this, some small languages are already disappearing, especially in places where there are not many speakers left. For example, some local languages in Africa or Asia are becoming less common because English is used more in schools and companies.
On the other hand, I think many countries are trying hard to protect their own languages. For example, in France and Japan, people still use their own language every day and the government also supports it through schools and television. Also, many people can speak two languages, their own language and English, so English does not have to replace the other one completely. In addition, technology like the internet and apps can help people learn and keep their own language alive, which was more difficult in the past.
In conclusion, although English is becoming more and more important around the world, I do not think it will completely destroy other languages. If governments and people continue to support their own languages, both English and other languages can exist together in the future.
Why this sits around Band 6
- Task Response: the position is stated but developed with generic examples ('some local languages in Africa or Asia') rather than specific, well-explained evidence, limiting depth.
- Coherence and Cohesion: relies on mechanical linkers like 'Firstly', 'On the other hand' and 'In addition' rather than varied, natural cohesive devices, making the structure feel formulaic.
- Lexical Resource: vocabulary is accurate but repetitive, with words like 'important', 'disappearing' and 'popular' reused instead of more precise synonyms or collocations.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: sentences are mostly simple or compound with basic complex clauses, and minor errors ('I do not fully agree with this idea, because') show limited range compared to higher bands.
Do I need to fully agree or disagree with this statement, or can I take a partial position?
A partial position is perfectly acceptable and often easier to develop convincingly, since the prompt uses 'to what extent', which explicitly invites a nuanced answer. The key is to state your extent of agreement clearly in the introduction and keep it consistent throughout, rather than switching sides without signalling it.