Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-30

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 7.5)

It is often asserted that accumulating wealth is the primary pathway to achieving happiness. While financial abundance contributes to well-being by providing security, I believe that it is not the sole requirement for a fulfilling life, as non-material factors play an equally critical role.

Having a lot of money enhances happiness by eliminating daily stress and providing diverse choices. Primarily, wealth ensures immediate access to high-quality healthcare, premium education, and comfortable housing, which prevents financial anxiety.

Furthermore, financial freedom gives people the liberty to travel, explore hobbies, and enjoy leisure time. For example, a person with ample funds can handle unexpected emergencies smoothly, ensuring peace of mind. Therefore, money acts as a powerful tool that secures physical comfort and valuable life opportunities.

However, long-term contentment stems from alternative sources that money cannot buy. First and foremost, maintaining strong social connections with supportive family and loyal friends provides emotional stability and a sense of belonging. Without loved ones, material success can feel hollow. Additionally, physical health is an indispensable asset; a person suffering from chronic illness will find it difficult to enjoy their wealth. Finally, finding a meaningful purpose through a career or volunteering brings a sense of self-worth that financial assets cannot replicate.

In conclusion, while having money promotes happiness by delivering comfort and eliminating hardships, it is not the definitive source of joy. True well-being requires a balance of financial stability, good health, and deep personal relationships.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: how money contributes to happiness and other factors that influence it. The position is clear and maintained throughout. However, the response is 12 words under the 250-word minimum requirement. While the ideas are relevant and logically developed, the failure to meet the length constraint results in a penalty for Task Achievement, as the development of ideas is slightly curtailed by the brevity. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph includes a more detailed illustrative example or a deeper exploration of the consequences to comfortably exceed the word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-structured with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving from the benefits of wealth to the importance of non-material factors. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For example', 'However', and 'First and foremost' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes. The flow of ideas is smooth, and the progression of the argument is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for the task. You demonstrate a good range of topic-specific language, such as 'financial abundance', 'material success', 'indispensable asset', and 'self-worth'. The collocations are generally natural, and there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions to add nuance to your arguments, though the current range is sufficient for a high score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, for example, 'while having money promotes happiness by delivering comfort... it is not the definitive source of joy.' The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage sentence flow. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the majority of sentences are error-free. This level of accuracy is strong and supports clear communication throughout the response.

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