Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-30
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 5.5)
A rich person can do anything that a normal person is not capable of doing. Some people believe that, after one becomes rich, the most crucial thing that the person can do is to help others. I agree that, given the opportunity to help others after becoming rich is very important, both in terms of need and opportunities.
To begin with, the most important and valuable thing a rich person can do is donate. Many rich people have become philanthropists after becoming rich and have helped communities by generous and kept themselves anonymous. For example, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. These two big billionaires have made contributions to the society by helping with people in need with disease eradications, education and so on. Warren Buffett directly funds the charity of Bill Gated so help can reach to more people around the world.
Moreover, being able to help others in terms of health and education important, helping others become successful by giving them guidance to become one is another responsibility. Assisting people by providing mentorship is and guidance cannot only benefit one but can indirectly help the society too. For example funding agricultural innovation ideas from a small village can improve n
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 201 words long. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the essay is incomplete and ends abruptly mid-sentence. While you clearly state your position in the introduction, the supporting arguments are underdeveloped. The second body paragraph is cut off, preventing a full exploration of the topic. To improve, you must ensure you provide a complete, well-supported argument that addresses all parts of the prompt and meets the length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows a basic level of organization with an introduction and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with' and 'Moreover' to signal the progression of ideas. However, because the text is incomplete, the overall logical flow is disrupted. The abrupt ending makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of your paragraphing and cohesion. To achieve a higher score, ensure that each paragraph is fully developed and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly throughout the entire response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You use some relevant terms like 'philanthropists', 'contributions', and 'eradication', which is positive. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'helping with people in need with disease eradications' and 'helping others become successful by giving them guidance to become one'. To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring your word choices are natural and accurate in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that hinder clarity, such as 'given the opportunity to help others after becoming rich is very important' (missing subject) and 'helping others become successful by giving them guidance to become one is another responsibility' (clunky phrasing). Additionally, there are punctuation and syntax issues throughout. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and sentence construction. Proofreading your work for basic errors and ensuring your sentences are grammatically complete will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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