Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-31
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)
In today's world, people have different views about how to help others. Some people think that having a lot of money is the most important way to help people in need. I disagree with this idea because time, skills, and personal effort are also very important.
On the one hand, money is very useful for helping people. Charities and hospitals need a lot of money to buy food, medicine, and build houses for poor people. For example, rich people and big companies can donate millions of dollars to build schools or fund medical research. Without money, it is hard to solve big problems like poverty or natural disasters. Therefore, having money creates a big opportunity to help others on a large scale.
On the other hand, I believe that money is not everything. People can help others without being rich by giving their time and skills. For instance, volunteers can teach poor children, care for elderly people, or help clean up local parks. These activities do not require money, but they make a big difference in the community. Also, a doctor or a teacher can volunteer their professional skills to help people who cannot afford them. This kind of personal help is just as important as money.
In conclusion, while money is important for big charities, I do not agree that it is the most important way to help others. People can also help through volunteering, sharing their skills, and giving their time. Everyone has the power to help others, no matter how much money they have.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of charities and medical research for the financial perspective, and volunteering for the non-financial perspective. The argument is well-developed, though it could benefit from slightly more depth in the analysis to reach the highest band. For instance, explaining why personal effort might be more sustainable than financial aid would have strengthened the position. Overall, the response is balanced and directly answers the question asked.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two sides of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear throughout the text, meeting the requirements for a high band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'charities', 'medical research', 'poverty', and 'professional skills'. While the range is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a higher band. The word choices are accurate, and there are no spelling errors. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more nuanced collocations and academic vocabulary to demonstrate greater flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. The student successfully uses complex structures, such as 'While money is important for big charities, I do not agree that it is the most important way to help others.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout. The writing is clear and easy to follow, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The control over grammar is consistent, supporting the overall clarity of the argument.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.