Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-23

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 6.0)

In recent years, self-confidence has become increasingly important in many parts of the world. Although this development may give rise to certain drawbacks, I believe that its advantages outweigh its disadvantages, particularly in terms of choosing the right career and developing a strong work ethic.

The most significant advantage of self-confidence is that it can help people make good career choices. This is primarily because confident children are more willing to explore different career opportunities and challenge themselves. As a result, they may become doctors, engineers, or pursue other professional careers. A clear example of this can be seen in educated families, where children are encouraged to be confident and believe that they can succeed if they work hard. Therefore, this aspect of self-confidence can have a particularly positive impact on students.

Another important benefit is that self-confidence can encourage hard work. One reason for this is that people who believe in themselves are more likely to put effort into achieving their goals. This applies not only to education but also to practical life. This means that if people have confidence in their abilities and work hard, they can achieve many of their goals. For instance, if someone works hard to become a successful businessman, their confidence can motivate them to overcome difficulties and continue working towards their ambition. Consequently, self-confidence can contribute considerably to developing discipline and perseverance, further strengthening the case for this positive development.

In conclusion, while self-confidence may have some drawbacks, I believe that these are outweighed by its benefits. In particular, its impact on choosing the right career and encouraging hard work makes it a worthwhile development overall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages of the 'anything is possible' mindset, specifically focusing on career choices and work ethic. However, the task asks for both advantages and disadvantages. While the introduction and conclusion mention that there are drawbacks, the body paragraphs fail to explicitly detail what those disadvantages are. This leads to an imbalance in the response. To reach a higher band, you must provide concrete examples of the potential negative consequences of this message, such as the risk of disappointment or unrealistic expectations when goals are not met. The position is clear, but the development of the 'disadvantages' aspect is insufficient.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'As a result,' 'Therefore,' and 'For instance' effectively to link sentences. However, the transition between the discussion of advantages and the lack of discussion regarding disadvantages is somewhat abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument well, though the cohesion could be improved by more explicitly connecting the 'drawbacks' mentioned in the introduction to the actual content of the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'develop a strong work ethic,' 'explore different career opportunities,' and 'perseverance' are used accurately. However, the vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'self-confidence' and 'hard work.' To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms or related collocations to demonstrate a wider lexical range. While the current vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher bands, as it relies on fairly standard, predictable word choices throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional sentences ('if they try hard enough') and relative clauses effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, and there are very few errors that impede communication. Most sentences are error-free, which is a positive sign. To move into the higher bands, you could experiment with a greater variety of complex structures, such as inversion or more sophisticated passive constructions, and ensure that punctuation is used with absolute precision. Overall, your control over grammar is solid and supports clear communication.

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

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