Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-29

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 6.5)

Many people think that having more and more money give them a sense of joy. However, others things also to be considered which often make people happiest.

The main reason of happiness due to more than enough money is social status. Wealthy people are not only recognized in society but they also become a role model among people. As a rich person they receive a special treatment by others which is a happy moment for them. As a result, people are happy by having loads of money is a reason of their great happiness.

With money people would also buy anything they want, whether it is a gadget which has newly been launched in the market or could be expensive branded clothes. They feel cherished by having these things which are dreams of many. With money people are also able to buy new cars that makes their life convenient and comfortable as well. Hence, people feels mostly happy after buying such things with the extra money.

I think people could also get the sense of happiness after spending a quality time with their loved ones. Although, people with money can buy materialistic things, having a family member and being with them makes people happy. Despite spending their hard earned money on family, they also enjoy celebrating happy moment such as birthdays and marriages.

So, many people choose their loved ones to be happy than money.

In conclusion, while several people are happy with more and more money, others enjoy accompanying withe their family, that I think is more important.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: how money brings happiness and what other factors contribute to it. The ideas are relevant, such as social status and material possessions for the first part, and family time for the second. However, the development is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the second paragraph where the point about social status is restated multiple times. The position is clear, but the arguments lack depth and specific examples from personal experience, which would have strengthened the response. Overall, it covers the requirements sufficiently for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a basic progression of ideas from money to non-monetary sources of happiness. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion', though some are used mechanically or slightly inaccurately (e.g., 'Although, people with money...'). Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. The structure is sufficient to guide the reader through the argument without difficulty, meeting the criteria for a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'materialistic', 'convenient', and 'social status'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'many people think that having more and more money give them a sense of joy' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'accompanying withe their family'. While the errors do not impede communication, the lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary keeps this at a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement ('money give', 'people feels') and preposition usage. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are minor slips throughout. The control of grammar is inconsistent, and while the errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The range of structures is sufficient for the task, warranting a Band 5.5.

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