Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?

Student answer (Band 7.0)

In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they work hard enough. This message can have several benefits, but it may also create unrealistic expectations. This essay will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of this idea.

One major advantage is that it can motivate children to work harder. If children believe that their efforts can lead to success, they are more likely to study seriously and develop useful skills. For example, a student who believes that hard work can help them get good grades may spend more time preparing for examinations instead of giving up easily. This attitude can also build confidence and perseverance, which are valuable qualities in adult life. Furthermore, children may become more willing to face challenges because they learn to see failure as a temporary setback.

However, there are also some disadvantages to giving children this message without explaining its limitations. Not every goal can be achieved simply through hard work because success can also depend on factors such as natural ability, financial circumstances, opportunities and support from others. Therefore, children who work extremely hard but still fail to achieve their goals may feel disappointed or believe that they are not good enough. For instance, a child may work hard to become a professional athlete, but physical ability and competition can also influence the final result.

In conclusion, telling children that they can achieve anything through hard work can encourage determination, confidence and a positive attitude. Nevertheless, parents and teachers should also teach children that effort is important but does not guarantee every outcome. This balanced approach can help children remain motivated while developing realistic expectations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, providing a clear position and discussing both advantages and disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with logical examples, such as the mention of academic performance and professional sports. The essay maintains a consistent focus throughout, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points. To reach a higher band, the student could further extend the development of ideas by exploring the long-term psychological impact of this message in more depth, rather than relying on relatively brief examples. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of the argument is easy to follow. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words. The essay demonstrates a high level of coherence, making it very easy for the reader to follow the writer's line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'unrealistic expectations', 'perseverance', 'temporary setback', and 'balanced approach'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys the intended meaning clearly, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would characterize a band 8 or 9 response. The word choices are natural and precise, and there are no errors in spelling or collocation that impede communication. The range is adequate for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If children believe that their efforts can lead to success, they are more likely to...'. The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence construction is generally error-free. The majority of sentences are grammatically sound, and there are no significant errors that cause confusion. To achieve a higher score, the student could incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or more sophisticated subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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