Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-29
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)
These days, the accumulation of immense wealth is often debated not just for the luxury it brings, but for the responsibilities or opportunities it unlocks. While some people believe that the greatest perk of being wealthy is the ability to support and uplift those in need, others might argue that personal freedom or financial security takes precedence. In my view, while philanthropy is undoubtedly one of the most noble and fulfilling aspects of being rich, it is rarely the primary motivation for most individuals, who are typically driven by personal security first.
On the one hand, having substantial financial resources grants individuals a unique platform to create meaningful social change. Wealthy individuals and foundations can fund medical research, build educational infrastructure, and provide immediate relief during humanitarian crises. For instance, billionaires like Bill Gates have leveraged their fortunes to eradicate diseases on a global scale—an impact that would be impossible without significant capital. From this perspective, the capacity to help others on a large scale is arguably the most morally rewarding dimension of wealth. It shifts the focus from self-indulgence to community welfare, giving money a deeper purpose.
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 student addresses the prompt by discussing whether helping others is the most important aspect of being rich, presenting a clear position that while philanthropy is noble, personal security is the primary driver. However, the response is severely limited by its length, containing only 188 words compared to the required 250-word minimum. Because the text cuts off abruptly in the second body paragraph, ideas are not fully developed or supported across a complete essay structure, leading to an incomplete task completion. Consequently, Task Achievement is penalised for length, restricting the score to Band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The writing demonstrates a clear overarching structure with a well-formulated introduction and a coherent first body paragraph. The student uses cohesive devices appropriately, such as 'While some people believe', 'On the one hand', and 'For instance', which help to logically sequence ideas. Paragraphing is introduced correctly, although the essay lacks a concluding paragraph due to the under-length nature of the text. Because the organisational structure is cut short and lacks a complete progression to a conclusion, it cannot achieve a higher band, but the internal coherence of the existing text warrants a solid Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student exhibits an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic context. Phrases such as 'accumulation of immense wealth', 'philanthropy is undoubtedly one of the most noble', and 'educational infrastructure' demonstrate a good control of lexical items and collocations. There are no major spelling or word-choice errors in the provided text. Although the vocabulary is relatively restricted in volume due to the short length, the quality of word choice displayed indicates a competence that aligns well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, featuring subordinate clauses and participial phrases used accurately, such as 'While some people believe that the greatest perk of being wealthy is the ability to support and uplift those in need...' Grammar and punctuation are handled with good control, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors that impede communication. While the range of structures is somewhat limited by the truncated length of the response, the sentences that are present are largely accurate, reflecting the characteristics of a Band 6.0 performance.
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