Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-13

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 6.5)

As far as this topic is concerned, telling children that they can achieve anything if they work hard has both advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, this message can be highly beneficial, but parents should also teach children to have realistic expectations.

Firstly, this message can motivate children to work hard and develop confidence. When children believe that their efforts can lead to success, they are more likely to study regularly and overcome difficulties. For example, a student who wants to become a doctor may continue working hard even when studying difficult subjects. Moreover, this attitude can help children become independent and responsible in the future.

On the other hand, telling children that they can achieve anything may sometimes create unrealistic expectations. Hard work is important, but success can also depend on circumstances, opportunities and natural abilities. If children work very hard but fail to achieve their goals, they may feel disappointed or believe that they are not good enough. Therefore, parents should explain that failure is a normal part of life and that people sometimes need to change their goals.

In conclusion, encouraging children to believe that they can achieve anything can increase their confidence, motivation and willingness to work hard. However, this message can also create unrealistic expectations. Therefore, children should be encouraged to work hard while also understanding that success is not always guaranteed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student addresses all parts of the task, examining both the advantages and disadvantages of telling children they can achieve anything. A clear position is stated in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported by logical explanations and examples, such as a student wanting to become a doctor. However, the response has a minor negative impact on Task Achievement because the word count is 227 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length issue prevents the ideas from being fully extended to a higher band level, keeping the task achievement score at Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a clear overall progression with a logical arrangement of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the text, such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Therefore'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, and referencing throughout the text is clear. While the cohesion is generally clear and effective, it can occasionally feel a bit standard and mechanical, which aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'realistic expectations', 'opportunities', 'natural abilities', and 'failure'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'overcome difficulties' and 'unrealistic expectations'. Word choice is generally appropriate and communication is never impeded. However, the vocabulary lacks the wider, more flexible range and skilful use of uncommon lexical items required for Band 7. Therefore, the lexical resource is comfortably placed at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures and subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'When children believe that their efforts can lead to success, they are more likely to study regularly...'). There is good control of grammar and punctuation, with frequent error-free sentences throughout the response. Although a few minor errors or awkward phrasings persist, they do not impede communication. The control of complex structures and overall grammatical accuracy support a solid Band 7 score for this criterion.

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