Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-02

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some countries today, there is an attitude that 'anyone can do it' in the arts - music, literature, acting, art, etc. As a result, people with no talent become rich and famous and genuine talent is not valued or appreciated.

Do you agree or disagree?

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

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The attitude of 'anyone can do it' is a rising phenomenon. In fact, it has existed in certain countries particularly within Africa for a very long period. This is mainly the reason why individuals with little or no experience or talent enjoy facilities that are supposed to be meant for skilled individuals. And I agree with the notion that this concept is one key reason why genuine talent is not valued or appreciated, because people tend to trust close relatives to do the job regardless of experience than to hire an expert to do it.

To begin with, one reason why most countries particularly Africa don't value talent is because we tend to believe or work with close relatives than strangers who have the capacity. This is sometimes driven by family or other factor and it gives life to the saying 'it is not what you know, but who you know'. One can have the skill to develop high technology for government to advance it job, but if you are not affiliated, you hardly get such connection. This is why we most time see those with talents on the street; some chose to open their own small business but still struggle to survive and others completely give up on their dreams. Meanwhile those with little or no talents are enjoying 'fat salaries' when they are unable to do the job neatly.

Another reason why this exist is the unavailability of resources to validate talent. To work, one needs to earn a certificate and this can be acquired by accredited institutions. For most people, enrolling is expensive making it completely difficult for them to attend those institution and get accredited to work in a formal or informal environment where you need to submit credentials. A friend of mind was particularly talented in mechanical engineering. He repairs all type of vehicle but do not get formal certification to work in an environment where he will be paid enough for the work that he do. He even lost an opportunity to work in a company opened by the government just because he does not have valid credentials though he possesses the experience than most of the candidates who learned their skill in a formal environment but could not perform major mechanical task. Some of the vehicles they couldn't repair where brough to his workshop where he get them fixed but was paid little.

As I conclude, it is important to note that most developed countries we see today value talent and that is why our talented brothers and sisters who could not gain better employment in their home country prefer to travel to developed countries where they are assessed by what they know and not who they know. If we are to progress, we need to value talents as a continent and avoid favoritism.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position, but it struggles with the scope of the topic. While the prompt specifically asks about the arts (music, literature, acting, etc.), the essay focuses heavily on general employment, nepotism, and mechanical engineering. By shifting the focus to general professional certification and government hiring, the response loses sight of the specific context of 'talent in the arts.' While the ideas are relevant to the broader theme of meritocracy, they are not sufficiently linked back to the arts, which limits the development of the argument. To improve, ensure that examples and arguments remain strictly within the domain specified by the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive (e.g., 'To begin with,' 'Another reason,' 'As I conclude'). There are also instances where referencing is slightly unclear, such as the transition between the discussion of nepotism and the specific example of the mechanical engineer. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use some less common vocabulary, such as 'phenomenon,' 'affiliated,' and 'accredited.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'enjoy facilities that are supposed to be meant for' and 'perform major mechanical task.' Additionally, some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'neatly' in the context of job performance. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary that fits the specific context of the arts and professional meritocracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'most time see,' 'some chose,' 'where he get them fixed') and article usage. There are also issues with pluralization and tense consistency. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to basic grammatical rules, especially verb forms and plural/singular agreement, and try to incorporate more varied complex structures with greater accuracy.

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