Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-10

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 some societies, children are taught that they can accomplish anything with sufficient effort. In this essay, I will discuss the merits and demerits of conveying this idea to toddlers.

Though there are many benefits of this concept, the foremost is that it creates confidence, motivation, and self-belief in youngsters. It encourages them to be punctual. For example, if parents see talent for cricket in their son during his childhood, they will encourage him to work hard to attain his goals. Not giving up is also another significant benefit. It makes them ready to face any difficult circumstances. For instance, in China, it is generally believed that if they fail, it is a great sign that they are struggling; they treat it like a blessing. So, they are eager to face any failure or difficulties.

Just as they have benefits, they also have drawbacks, and one of the major downsides is that a huge failure can disappoint them or make them self-doubt. Like, if a child works extremely hard for an important examination but still receives a low grade, they may begin to doubt their abilities and feel disappointed because they were taught that hard work always leads to success. Hard work alone can't overcome every circumstance; the person should also have good luck to be successful. Such as, if a youngster tries hard to get admission into a widely recognized university but if they have limited number of seats. In such cases, luck depends very much on it.

In conclusion, it is a good thing to ask children to work hard, which motivates them. However, on the other hand, it also makes self-doubt into child if they don't succeed, as success can depend on various circumstances as well as effort.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both the advantages and disadvantages of the prompt. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are generally well-developed. For instance, the discussion on confidence and motivation as an advantage is supported by the example of cricket, and the drawback of potential self-doubt is illustrated with the scenario of academic failure. However, the development is slightly uneven; the argument regarding 'luck' in the third paragraph is a bit simplistic and could have been more sophisticated. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the advantages and disadvantages. Cohesive devices such as 'Though there are many benefits', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there is occasional awkwardness in the flow, such as the transition between the discussion of failure and the concept of luck. Despite these minor issues, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow, justifying a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate and appropriate for the task. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'merits and demerits', 'self-doubt', and 'circumstances'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'makes self-doubt into child'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning with precision, it lacks the flexibility and sophisticated control required for a higher band. The errors in word choice do not impede communication, placing this firmly in the Band 6.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'if they have limited number of seats' (missing article) and 'makes self-doubt into child' (incorrect preposition and word order). Additionally, some sentences are slightly fragmented or awkward in their construction. While the student attempts complex structures, the control is not consistent enough for a Band 7.0. The errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the core arguments, which is characteristic of a Band 6.0.

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