Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In many societies, children are raised with the notion that relentless effort guarantees success in any endeavor. While this optimistic ethos instills resilience and drive, it can also foster unrealistic expectations and severe mental stress.

On the positive side, encouraging self-efficacy instills a strong work ethic from a young age. When children believe their potential is limitless, they develop a growth mindset, viewing obstacles as temporary setbacks rather than insurmountable barriers. This mindset motivates them to push past self-doubt, master complex skills, and pursue ambitious academic or personal goals. Furthermore, it prevents early resignation, teaching youth that persistence often bridges the gap between innate ability and high achievement.

However, this philosophy carries notable drawbacks. The premise that effort alone dictates outcome ignores external constraints such as systemic inequality, economic barriers, and natural aptitude. When children inevitably encounter failure despite their best efforts, they may absorb sole responsibility, leading to profound feelings of inadequacy, self-blame, and anxiety. Furthermore, an overemphasis on limitless achievement can create excessive pressure to perform, potentially resulting in burnout and a fragile sense of self-worth tied entirely to tangible success.

Ultimately, telling children they can accomplish anything through hard work builds determination and ambition, but it risks damaging their psychological well-being when reality falls short. A more balanced approach would be to praise effort and resilience while simultaneously teaching children to accept their natural limitations and navigate uncontrollable life factors gracefully.

This enables young individuals to pursue meaningful goals with realistic confidence, remaining resilient without sacrificing their mental health.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by examining both the advantages and disadvantages of telling children they can achieve anything. The student maintains a clear position throughout, introducing a nuanced stance in the introduction and reinforcing it in the conclusion. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant reasoning, such as the discussion on developing a growth mindset versus the psychological risks of failing despite best efforts. There is no tendency to over-generalise, and all arguments directly relate to the prompt. Therefore, the response comfortably meets the criteria for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from the introduction to distinct body paragraphs covering advantages and disadvantages, followed by a well-reasoned conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'While this optimistic ethos', 'On the positive side', and 'However, this philosophy carries notable drawbacks' are used flexibly and appropriately without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is fully sufficient and used logically to separate different facets of the argument. All aspects of cohesion are well managed, earning a solid Band 8.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic response. Uncommon lexical items such as 'relentless effort', 'self-efficacy', 'insurmountable barriers', 'systemic inequality', and 'fragile sense of self-worth' are employed with a high degree of precision and natural collocation. Word choice is sophisticated, and there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The control of vocabulary reflects the high standards of Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high level of accuracy. Sentences such as 'When children believe their potential is limitless, they develop a growth mindset...' showcase excellent control over subordinate clauses and participial phrases. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any complex structures attempted are handled with skill. Punctuation is accurate and supports the flow of complex ideas. The grammatical control is strong and meets the descriptors for an 8.0.

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

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