Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-07

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.

What is your opinion about this?

What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Some individuals define living in the present time as the best in history. This is because changes in lifestyle has taken mammoth dimensions. In my opinion as well it is the golden period to live in owing to the advancements in every field of life.

The primary catalyst is comfort of living in recent times, which is evident in every sector of living. Since now we have the highest level of technology available at our service to make our life easier, such advancements has not only minimized physical workload but reduced everyday challenges with respect to food, shelter and travelling. For instance, the electronic appliances and automobiles which are the innovation of modern era have cut down the time spent in household chores and travelling significantly. Furthermore, the breakthrough innovations in medicine have drastically reduced the mortality rate and occurrence of epidemics. This is because of the mass vaccination practices which curb the spread of infectious diseases which were common in old times. To exemplify, a well known disease of the past- polio has been almost eradicated in modern times.

To the best of my knowledge, the Early Modern ear would be interesting time on history to live in as it showed the transition from Classical era into modern era. It was witnessed many scholars like William Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci and Christopher Columbus. The major movements in politics, religion, and geography helped to guide human civilization into the Modern era.

In conclusion, although all phases of time in the past have left a significant mark on human civilization; even I have the same opinion that present time is undoubtedly the best of all ages in terms of comfort of living and health quality.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the opinion on the present day and the choice of a historical period. The position is clear throughout. The arguments regarding modern comfort and medical advancements are well-supported with relevant examples like polio eradication. However, the second part of the task—discussing an interesting historical period—is somewhat underdeveloped. While you mention the Early Modern era and key figures, the explanation of why it would be 'interesting' to live in is brief. Expanding on the specific experiences or societal dynamics of that time would have strengthened the response. Overall, the ideas are relevant and the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two main parts of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are minor issues with flow; for example, the transition between the discussion of modern medicine and the historical period could be smoother. Referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is logical, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'primary catalyst', 'drastically reduced', and 'curb the spread' are used effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'mammoth dimensions' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'Early Modern ear' (a spelling error for 'era'). While you attempt less common vocabulary, the range is adequate rather than wide. To reach a higher band, focus on more sophisticated collocations and ensure precise word usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement, such as 'changes in lifestyle has' (should be 'have') and 'such advancements has' (should be 'have'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'interesting time on history' (should be 'in history') and 'It was witnessed many scholars' (should be 'It witnessed' or 'It was a time that witnessed'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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