Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say the main way to be happy in life is to have a lot of money. How might having a lot of money make people happy? What other things in life can make people happy?

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

 

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Some individuals assert that money is the main source of a happier life because money can buy so many things, which makes an individual happy. In my opinion happiness is a subjective term and it is different for every individual.

To begin with, having a significant amount of money can makes a person life easier because individuals does not need to work which eventually makes them happier. Moreover, with money a person can buy luxurious items such as watches, cars, and clothes and for some people shopping is a stress buster, and if they can spend without thinking that makes them happy. Furthermore, with financial stability a person can help others, which may increase happiness. Travelling is also an aspect of happy life.

In addition, there are many other things other than money which can make a person happy. Firstly, health it is more important than money and the only thing money cannot buy. A healthy person can earn money, enjoy with their family, travel. Secondly, having good friends because friends are considered as wealth and if an individual have someone they can rely upon and trust blindly they can stay happy.

Lastly, job satisfaction, good relationships, and goodwill are also some aspects which makes a person content. For instance, if a person has money but no one respects him and he does not have a goodwill in the society than such individuals may feel isolated and are not happy in a long run. As a result, many individuals prefer to improve their image in society rather than running behind money.

To conclude, for some individuals happiness is having a lot of money so they can enjoy, travel, and shop without having a second thought, nevertheless, for some people it is having good job, life partner, and health and in their opinion money cannot buy happiness. That is the reason happiness cannot be measured based on the bank balance of an individual.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both how money contributes to happiness and identifying alternative sources of fulfillment. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. The position is clear from the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. While some points, such as the mention of 'goodwill' and 'job satisfaction,' could have been expanded with more specific examples to reach a higher band, the response provides a balanced view that satisfies the requirements of the task. The structure is logical, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main arguments presented in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main aspects of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In addition' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, though there are minor instances where the flow could be smoother, such as the transition between the discussion of health and the importance of friends. Overall, the information is easy to follow, and the essay maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use a range of topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'financial stability,' 'stress buster,' and 'content.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'does not have a goodwill in the society' (should be 'good reputation'). While the student uses some less common items, the control is not consistently sophisticated. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'money can makes a person life easier,' 'individuals does not need to work,' 'if an individual have someone'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some awkward phrasings that affect the overall fluency. To improve, the student should focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles and prepositions, as these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band.

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