Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Some opine that music brings people together irrespective of their nationalities and background. This essay agrees that listening to the songs would increase unity because emotions we feel are not dependent on our background or our age.

Music is soothing to ears. A large number of people feel relaxed when listening to music. Music is a combination of tone, beat, style of singing and more, when all these parts combine to produce a music track, a listener would feel the same emotion as a singer intended. For example, the most played song on YouTube is Despacito which is an Italian song. Although people do not understand the lyrics of the song, they can still feel the emotions behind it; thus, this song became internationally popular. This means that a song can bring different people from different socio-economic background together, as emotion does not suffer from cultural barrier.

Music is not defined by those who made it, but by those who listens to them. There are many genre including hip-hop and pop which were popular in the early 2000s, while phonk music was mostly preferred in the 2020s. However, this does not mean that only millennials enjoy pop and only gen z enjoy phonk. In actuality, there is no difference, as both types of music is equally preferred in both age groups.

To conclude, music is a way to bring out emotions in a person; thus, when a person feels the emotion while listening to a song, they will feel closer towards each other despite the differences in culture, language or age.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction: you agree that music can unite people because shared emotions cross cultural and age differences. The Despacito example supports the cultural point, and the discussion of pop and phonk addresses age differences, so the response covers both parts of the question. The cultural argument is more fully explained than the age argument, however: the claim that both genres are equally preferred by both age groups is asserted rather than supported with an example or explanation. The essay also focuses mainly on listeners feeling similar emotions; explaining how this leads to people interacting or feeling united would develop the central idea further. More specific support and fuller development of both reasons would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure, moving from your position to two supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. The paragraphs each have a recognisable focus, and linking expressions such as “For example,” “However,” and “To conclude” help readers follow the argument. Some connections are less smooth: the opening paragraph moves from music’s relaxing effect to its components and then to international popularity, without always making the link to unity explicit. The second body paragraph also shifts from changes in popular genres over time to claims about age groups, which would benefit from a clearer explanation. Referencing in “they will feel closer towards each other” is understandable but could be more precise about who “they” refers to. More explicit links between evidence and the main claim would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “irrespective,” “internationally popular,” “cultural barrier,” and “socio-economic background.” These choices help express the main ideas, and the meaning remains clear. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “soothing to ears,” “a music track,” and “feel closer towards each other.” Repetition of “music,” “song,” and “emotion” also limits flexibility, particularly in the body paragraphs. Aim to use more precise expressions for the effect of music and for social connection, while checking whether nouns are countable and whether phrases sound natural in context. This would make the vocabulary more controlled and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional structure in “when all these parts combine … a listener would feel” and a concession beginning “Although people do not understand the lyrics.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “those who listens” has subject–verb disagreement, and “There are many genre” needs a plural noun. In “both types of music is equally preferred,” the subject requires a plural verb. The long sentence beginning “Music is a combination…” also joins clauses with a comma, creating a punctuation problem. Review agreement, plural forms, and sentence boundaries, while retaining the complex structures you already attempt.

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