Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-15

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some societies, stress is now regarded as a major problem, and it is thought that people suffer from more stress than they did in the past. However, others feel that the amount of stress people have today is exaggerated. They say that previous generations were under more pressure, but the idea of suffering from stress did not exist.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Science has transformed virtually every aspect of human existence, from healthcare and communication to transportation and environmental protection. While scientific research is often driven by the desire to expand human knowledge, I strongly agree that its primary purpose should be to improve people’s lives. This is because scientific progress can enhance public health, raise living standards and address some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity.

One of the most important ways in which science benefits society is through advances in healthcare. Scientific research has enabled the development of vaccines, life-saving medicines and sophisticated diagnostic technologies, allowing many diseases to be detected and treated more effectively than in the past. For example, advances in medical imaging enable doctors to identify serious illnesses at an early stage, when treatment is often more successful. Consequently, scientific innovation can not only extend life expectancy but also improve the quality of life for millions of people.

Nevertheless, it would be too narrow to argue that science should only pursue discoveries with immediate practical benefits. Some research is primarily intended to expand our understanding of the natural world. Space exploration, for instance, may not produce an immediate improvement in people’s daily lives, but it can generate valuable knowledge and lead to unexpected technological innovations in the future. Therefore, pure research should not be neglected simply because its benefits are not immediately apparent.

In conclusion, although expanding human knowledge is an important function of science, I believe that improving people’s lives should remain its central purpose. Scientific advances in healthcare, technology and environmental protection have the greatest value when they are ultimately used to create a healthier, safer and more sustainable society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 2.0

The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks for a discussion on the nature of stress in modern society versus the past, yet the student has written an essay about the purpose of scientific research. Because the student failed to address the prompt entirely, the task achievement score is severely impacted. While the essay is well-structured and coherent in its own right, it does not fulfill the requirements of the task set by the examiner. Consequently, it cannot be assessed as a successful response to the specific question provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Despite being off-topic, the essay demonstrates a high level of coherence and cohesion. The text is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. The student uses a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'consequently', 'nevertheless', and 'for instance', which help to guide the reader through the argument. The progression of ideas is smooth and logical, showing a strong grasp of paragraph structure and discourse markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary is sophisticated and well-suited to an academic context. The student uses a wide range of topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'scientific innovation', 'life expectancy', 'sophisticated diagnostic technologies', and 'sustainable society'. The collocations are natural and precise, and there are no noticeable errors in word choice. The lexical range is clearly at a high level, demonstrating an ability to use language flexibly and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammatical control is excellent. The student employs a variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses and relative clauses, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are virtually no grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and aspect is consistent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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