Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-30

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)

In many countries, people believe that anyone can become successful in the arts, regardless of their natural ability. This has led to concerns that people without real talent can become rich and famous, while genuinely talented artists are ignored. I partly agree with this view because social media and entertainment industries can sometimes reward popularity more than talent.

On the one hand, it is true that people without exceptional artistic skills can become famous. Social media platforms allow almost anyone to share music, videos, paintings or other creative work with a large audience. If their content becomes popular, they can attract millions of followers and earn money through advertising and sponsorships. In many cases, their success is based on their personality or online popularity rather than their artistic ability. For example, some social media creators become famous because of entertaining videos, even though they may not have strong skills in music or acting.

On the other hand, I do not believe that genuine talent is no longer valued. People with outstanding abilities can still achieve great success if they work hard and receive the right opportunities. For instance, talented singers can gain recognition through music competitions, while skilled writers can become successful by publishing high-quality books. Moreover, audiences often continue to appreciate artists who produce original and meaningful work.

In conclusion, I partly agree that modern society sometimes gives too much attention to popularity rather than genuine talent. However, I believe that talented people can still become successful through hard work, creativity and suitable opportunities. Therefore, talent remains important, although popularity has become a major factor in achieving fame.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a balanced position and exploring both sides of the argument. The viewpoint is well maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning how social media platforms allow artists to gain popularity through personality and online presence rather than pure artistic skill, and noting how traditional pathways like music competitions and book publishing still reward genuine talent. While the development is somewhat general in places, it fully satisfies the requirements of a Band 7 response by presenting a clear position and supporting all main arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct and clear central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the two body paragraphs representing opposing views, and concluding with a balanced summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is managed sufficiently and appropriately, contributing to an overall coherent piece of writing that meets the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic discussion, including phrases such as 'natural ability', 'exceptional artistic skills', 'spark recognition', and 'meaningful work'. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary items like 'sponsorships' and 'outstanding abilities', demonstrating an awareness of style and collocation. Word choice is generally precise and spelling is accurate throughout, allowing the message to be communicated clearly. The lexical range is adequate to secure a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional or concessive clauses such as 'While their content becomes popular, they can attract...' and '...even though they may not have strong skills...'. There is a high frequency of error-free sentences, and the punctuation and grammar are well controlled. Minor errors are virtually absent, and sentence forms are handled with good accuracy, demonstrating the control expected at Band 7.

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