Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-17

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)

Many parents encourage their children to believe that hard work can help them achieve any goals. This message has several advantages, as it build confidence and motivation. However, it can also create unrealistic expectations and lead to disappointment when children face failure.

One major advantage children can develop self-confidence when they work hard toward their goals. This is because children believe that hard work can help them achieve their goals. For example, a young age student who studies regularly can improve their skills and gain knowledge. As a result, children become more confident and are more willing to face difficult challenges.

One major disadvantage is that children may feel disappointed when they work hard but do not achieve the results they expert. For instance, a student may get low marks despite studying hard and feel disappointed and unmotivated. As a result, they may lose motivation, stop trying as hard, and become less confident about achieving their goals.

In conclusion, this message can build children's confidence, but it may also lead to disappointment when they fail. Therefore, parents should encourage hard work while teaching children that failure is a normal part of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both sides of the question and give a clear overall view: hard work can build confidence, while unmet expectations may cause disappointment. The examples about a student studying regularly and one receiving low marks are relevant, but the discussion remains brief and largely repeats the same cause-and-effect points. The advantages are not explored beyond confidence and willingness to face challenges, and the disadvantages could consider other consequences of believing success is always possible through effort. The response also contains 192 words, so it does not meet the required minimum of 250. Develop each side with fuller explanation and specific examples, and clarify how parents can balance encouragement with realistic expectations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into a clear introduction, one paragraph for advantages, one for disadvantages, and a conclusion. This makes the overall progression easy to follow, and signposts such as “One major advantage,” “For example,” and “In conclusion” help readers identify the stages of the argument. The ideas within each body paragraph also follow a sensible sequence from claim to example and result. However, cohesion relies heavily on repeated patterns such as “This is because” and “As a result,” and the second paragraph repeats the idea that hard work helps children achieve their goals. To move beyond this level, vary the links between ideas and use referencing or contrast more naturally, while ensuring each sentence adds a distinct point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for communicating the main ideas, with relevant terms such as “self-confidence,” “motivation,” “unrealistic expectations,” and “disappointment.” These choices make the topic clear, and the language is generally understandable. However, the range is limited by repeated use of “hard work,” “goals,” “children,” and “disappointed,” so some points sound repetitive rather than precisely developed. There are also noticeable word-choice or word-form problems, including “a young age student” and “the results they expert,” which reduce naturalness. Build a wider set of expressions for effort, achievement, setbacks, and expectations, and check that each word fits its grammatical form and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use mostly clear sentence structures and include some complex forms, for example, “when they work hard but do not achieve the results…” and “while teaching children that failure is a normal part of life.” Most sentences communicate their meaning without difficulty. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In the opening, “as it build confidence” needs subject–verb agreement (“as it builds confidence”). The second paragraph begins with a missing linking structure: “One major advantage children can develop…” would be clearer as “One major advantage is that children can develop…”. These errors do not usually obstruct understanding, but they show that control is not yet consistent. Practise accurate clause openings and agreement, and use a broader mix of sentence patterns.

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