Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some say that the most important thing about being rich is that one has the opportunity to help others. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 

Student answer (Band 8.0)

Many people consider that the most significant benefit of having a lot of money is that one can be helpful to others. I completely agree with this view but it is also important to consider that being rich does not guarantee that one will definitely help others. It depends on the individual's character and their willingness to assist others.

Being financially well-off is a privilege that provides us many opportunities to assist those in need. Most people who want to help others are often limited by their financial and economic conditions. So having a lot of money means individuals can not only live a comfortable life themselves but also use that money to make the life of others convenient. For example, rich people can donate to charities and even fund researches on public welfare.

However, I believe that there are many people who despite being rich do not have the will to help people. Many rich people tend to save money to pass it down to next generations instead of using it to help others in need. A person who does not have the innate feeling of responsibility to help people will not do so even if given the opportunity; whereas those who are benevolent in nature tend to assist other even if they are not financially well-off. A very famous well-known example is of Oprah Winfrey, an actor who grew up in poverty but after years of hardships is now a millionare. She frequently donates money to support education especially for girls in underdeveloped countries. On the other hand, Elon Musk who is the world's first trillionare has the opportunity to end world hunger but has opted not to address the crisis.

Conclusively, although the most significant advantage of being rich is the numerous opportunities to make other's lives better, I believe it comes down to one's inclination to help others.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all parts of the task, clearly stating your position that while wealth provides the opportunity to help others, it does not guarantee the inclination to do so. Your ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples like Oprah Winfrey and Elon Musk. The argument is balanced and logically developed throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, ensure that your examples are fully integrated into the argument; for instance, the comparison between the two public figures is effective, but you could further explain how their actions specifically relate to the 'opportunity' versus 'inclination' aspect of your thesis to deepen the analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Conclusively' to guide the reader through your argument. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the potential of wealth to the importance of individual character. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, in the second paragraph, 'make the life of others convenient' is slightly awkward and could be better linked to the previous sentence to improve flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'financially well-off,' 'innate feeling of responsibility,' and 'benevolent in nature' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'fund researches' (research is an uncountable noun) and 'world's first trillionare' (spelling: trillionaire). While you use some less common items, the vocabulary is generally functional rather than highly sophisticated. Focusing on more precise collocations and avoiding minor spelling errors will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. There is good control over punctuation and sentence construction. However, there are occasional slips, such as 'make the life of others convenient' (should be 'lives') and 'assist other even if' (should be 'others'). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, with greater consistency and accuracy.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.