Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-22
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)
In some cultures, childern are told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. This idea has both advantages and disadvantages.
On the positive side, this message can make children more confident and motivated. They believe that hard work will help them reach their goals, so they do not give up easily. it also teaches them discipline and the importance of effort. For example, a student who studies hard may improve their grades because they believe their effort will pay off. In addition, this mentality can encourage children to dream big and set goals, which may leadd them to explore opportunities they would not have considered.
On the negative side, the message is not always realistic. Success often depends on other factors such as natural ability , financial support, or available opportunities. If children work very hard but still fail, they may feel disappointed or blame themselves. this can cause stress and reduce theirr motivation. In some cases, children may even develop unhealthy pressure to succeed, which could affect their mental health. Furthermore, telling children they can achieve "anything" may give them false hope. They might expect results that are not possible, and when reality does not match their expectations, they may struggle to accept it.
In conclusion, telling children they can achieve anything has benefits because it motivates them and builds confidence. However, it also has risks if they do not understand the limits. It is better to encourage children to work hard while also teaching them that success depends on many different factors
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of telling children they can achieve anything. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, well-developed, and extended with appropriate supporting points, such as the psychological impact of unrealistic expectations and the motivational benefits of perseverance. The response demonstrates a good grasp of the prompt's requirements, meeting all the criteria for a Band 7 performance under this heading.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured into distinct paragraphs, starting with an introduction, followed by body paragraphs dedicated separately to advantages and disadvantages, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the positive side', 'In addition', 'On the negative side', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, earning a solid Band 7.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task. Less common lexical items and phrases are attempted with general success, such as 'perseverance', 'unhealthy pressure', and 'false hope'. However, there are minor spelling errors ('childern', 'leadd', 'reffer') and occasional awkward mechanics. Despite these slips, the vocabulary used is precise enough to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, fitting comfortably into the Band 6.5 or solid Band 6 descriptor profile.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer attempts various structures, such as conditional clauses ('If children work very hard...') and relative clauses ('...opportunities they would not have considered'). While there are some punctuation and capitalization errors (e.g., lower-case 'it' in 'it also teaches', uncapitalised 'this' after periods, and missing full stops/commas in places), these errors rarely impede communication and the majority of sentences remain clear and grammatically sound, warranting a Band 6.5.
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