Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-28
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 5.5)
Nowadays every individual is behind the money. No matter how will they earn but they want want at any cost. As per sources, 99% of the world's population is into money making assuming that it can uplift the mood and solve all the problems. This essay will discuss both the aspects before reaching a conclusion.
To begin with, I believe that having a lot of money can definitely make people happy. The sorrows, pain and helplessness everything can be cured by having money. This is because no one is answerable to anyone when the person is earning a lump sum amount. For instance- No matter if you are dealing with any court case it will give you trouble but just hiring a well known high professional lawyer would solve the case and all the mental trauma. So not only court cases but there are plenty of reasons for the
On the other hand,
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely impacts the development of ideas. While the introduction attempts to address the prompt, the essay is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence. Because the response fails to address the second part of the prompt (other things that make people happy) and lacks a conclusion, it is considered a partial response. To improve, you must ensure you fully develop both parts of the question and meet the length requirement to allow for a complete, well-supported argument.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay shows some attempt at logical organization with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending and the lack of a second body paragraph or conclusion mean that there is no overall progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used in a basic way, such as 'To begin with' and 'On the other hand', but the incomplete nature of the text makes it difficult to assess the full coherence of the argument. Paragraphing is present but insufficient due to the unfinished state of the writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision expected for higher bands. Phrases like 'behind the money' and 'into money making' are slightly unnatural. There are also some errors in word choice, such as 'lump sum amount' which is not used in the correct context here. To improve, focus on learning collocations and more sophisticated vocabulary related to the topic of happiness and finance, and ensure you use words in their correct idiomatic context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'No matter how will they earn' (incorrect word order) and 'everything can be cured by having money' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of hyphens and capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors is noticeable and occasionally distracts the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and sentence structure will help improve your accuracy.
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