Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-24

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)

In some societies, stress is considered a serious problem, and many people believe that individuals are more stressed today than in the past. However, others argue that previous generations faced greater pressure, although they did not use the word “stress”. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people may experience more stress nowadays. Modern life is becoming increasingly competitive, particularly in education and employment. Many people work long hours and have to deal with financial problems, high living costs and job insecurity. In addition, social media can increase stress because people often compare their lives, appearance and achievements with others. For example, young people may feel pressure to get a good job and earn a high salary while also maintaining an active social life.

On the other hand, previous generations also experienced considerable pressure. In the past, people had fewer medical facilities, fewer job opportunities and more physically demanding lifestyles. Wars, poverty and unemployment also affected many families. However, people did not have the same understanding of mental health and stress as people do today. Therefore, their difficulties may not have been described as stress, even though they could have caused significant emotional pressure.

In my opinion, both generations have experienced serious forms of stress, but the causes are different. People in the past generally faced more physical and social difficulties, whereas modern people face greater psychological pressure from work, money, competition and technology. Therefore, I believe that stress has not necessarily increased overall, but its nature has changed considerably over time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task prompt, discussing both views regarding modern versus historical stress levels and clearly presenting a well-developed personal opinion. The introduction outlines the essay's direction, and the body paragraphs present relevant, extended ideas with good examples, such as competitive education, financial problems, and the impact of social media. The conclusion effectively summarises the arguments and delivers a nuanced final position that the nature of stress has evolved rather than increased overall. This performance fully meets the criteria for Band 7.0, as all parts of the prompt are addressed with a clear position throughout, and ideas are extended and supported effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The essay is divided into four well-structured paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose: introduction, first viewpoint, second viewpoint, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' are used flexibly and appropriately to connect ideas and guide the reader smoothly through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively. There is a clear overall progression from the introduction of the topic to the detailed examination of both sides, culminating in a balanced personal conclusion. This warrants a solid Band 7.0 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for some flexibility and precision, successfully using less common lexical items such as 'job insecurity', 'physically demanding', 'emotional pressure', and 'psychological pressure'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and collocation is natural in most instances (e.g., 'maintain an active social life', 'financial problems'). There are no spelling errors, and the vocabulary deployed is adequate for discussing abstract concepts related to mental health and societal pressures. While it does not consistently display the wide, highly sophisticated control required for higher bands, it comfortably meets the Band 7.0 descriptor for vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The student uses a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, demonstrating good overall control of grammar and punctuation. Examples of complex structures include conditional and subordinate clauses such as 'Many people work long hours and have to deal with...', and 'Although they did not use the word "stress"'. There are frequent error-free sentences, and minor grammatical inaccuracies are absent, showing that the writer has a firm grasp of sentence mechanics. Punctuation is accurate throughout. The majority of complex sentences are well-constructed, matching the Band 7.0 profile for grammatical range and accuracy.

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